Leadership and advocacy should be an extention of our concern and care for others. Servant leadership is a way to model the example of Jesus in loving our neighbor as our self. We are also to advocate for others as modeled by the early church as they cared for widows, orphans, and the strangers among them. As counselors we can use our profession to be the hands and feet of Jesus to bring emotional health and healing to those in need.
Leadership and Advocacy CACREP Competencies (2016):
a. Theories and skills of leadership
b. Leadership and leadership development in professional organizations
c. Leadership in counselor education programs
d. Knowledge of accreditation standards and processes
e. Leadership, management, and administration in counseling organizations and other
institutions
f. Leadership roles and strategies for responding to crises and disasters
g. Strategies of leadership in consultation
h. Current topical and political issues in counseling and how those issues affect the daily work
of counselors and the counseling profession
i. Role of counselors and counselor educators advocating on behalf of the profession and
professional identity
j. Models and competencies for advocating for clients at the individual, system, and policy
levels
k. Strategies of leadership in relation to current multicultural and social justice issues
l. Ethical and culturally relevant leadership and advocacy practices
Supporting Artifacts
Created during COUC 860 Counseling Leadership and Advocacy
- As leaders in the field of counseling, counselor educators are stewards and gatekeepers of the profession. As such, they are not only tasked with the training of master’s level practitioners; they are called upon to provide leadership and service to the counseling profession. As such, it is essential that doctoral students develop a professional identity as counselor educators in the areas of leadership and service to the counseling profession and become active participation in the ongoing process of counselor education. The class will also help students become informed about current developments within the counseling profession, examine ethical and social advocacy issues, and identify opportunities for leadership in the profession.
Leadership and Advocacy encompass a wide range of competency criteria. To demonstrate mastery in each of these areas artifact 54 provides a number of ways the criteria are met. First (a.) theories and skills of leadership are evaluated in this artifact through the philosophy statement which also takes into account (b.) leadership and leadership development in professional organizations along with (c.) leadership in counselor education programs. Further artifact 54 provides evidence of the (d.) knowledge of accreditation standards and processes throughout the philosophy statement. Considerations of (e.) leadership, management, and administration in counseling organizations and other institutions are also included within this philosophy statement covering (f.) leadership roles and strategies for responding to crises and disasters along with (g.) strategies of leadership in consultation. These criteria are further illustrated in the presentation on CSI leadership (artifact 55) that demonstrates an understanding of the importance of leadership in the counseling field.
While artifact 54 includes aspects of social justice competencies, artifact 56 is specific to addressing advocacy mastery highlighting the criteria of (h.) current topical and political issues in counseling and how those issues affect the daily work of counselors and the counseling profession, the (i.) role of counselors and counselor educators advocating on behalf of the profession and professional identity, and (j.) models and competencies for advocating for clients at the individual, system, and policy
levels by evaluating these ideals through a Christian lens and as a follower of Jesus Christ who advocates for all made in His image. By concidering (k.) strategies of leadership in relation to current multicultural and social justice issues and (l.) ethical and culturally relevant leadership and advocacy practices within the Christian worldview, applying these strategies ethically and in culturally relevant ways as a leader are discussed.
Finally, to further demonstrate a grasp of leadership and advocacy mastery, artifact 57 offers a glimpse of personal learning through an interview with a current leader in the counseling field. Dr. Deedre Mitchell shared insights through this interview which were reflected in the artifact to briefly cover each criteria beginning with (a.) theories and skills of leadership. In the interview discussions of (b.) leadership and leadership development in professional organizations were viewed through her experience and as a challenge for me to continue developing through my own (c.) leadership in counselor education programs as a mentor and CSI member. She also highlighted the importance of (d.) knowledge of accreditation standards and processes as needed for leaders in the counseling educator profession. She descibed her journey of (e.) leadership, management, and administration in counseling organizations and other institutions and I was able to reflect on my own application of this criteria. Further, the challenges of (f.) leadership roles and strategies for responding to crises and disasters as part of leadership is covered as tools are developed to prepare for such events. This interview provided ways to develop (g.) strategies of leadership in consultation with this experience as a foundation for consultation for the leadership field. It was also an opportunity to reflect on and discuss (h.) current topical and political issues in counseling and how those issues affect the daily work of counselors and the counseling profession as she described some of the issues that she has had to overcome. The interview was also enlightening as the (i.) role of counselors and counselor educators advocating on behalf of the profession and professional identity were evidenced in her journey and challenged me to continue working to advocate for myself and the profession through (j.) models and competencies for advocating for clients at the individual, system, and policy
levels and what that could look like locally and nationally. Finally, thinking through (k.) strategies of leadership in relation to current multicultural and social justice issues within the framework of (l.) ethical and culturally relevant leadership and advocacy practices to create the leadership and advocacy needed in the counseling profession through means such as research helps to solidify the competency needed to make gains to further the field.
Along with the artifacts produces in COUC 860, artifact 58 demonstrates competency in leadership as a Co-Host for a counseling podcast serving the Liberty University counseling students. This artifact covers multiple criteria depending on the specific episode, but certainly provides evidence for (c.) leadership in counselor education programs and (k.) strategies of leadership in relation to current multicultural and social justice issues as current issues are discussed and made available to the Liberty University counseling program.
Finally, an additional piece of advocacy mastery is included in artifact 59 with an article published in the AMCD newsletter advocating for counselors to develop multicultural competency in working with adoptive families. This artifact addresses competency in both (k.) strategies of leadership in relation to current multicultural and social justice issues and (l.) ethical and culturally relevant leadership and advocacy practices as adoption is a culture that is often overlooked when thinking of areas for advocacy.
Leadership Experience
Chi Sigma Iota RENAR Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International, Treasurer, Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho Chapter, Chi Sigma Iota, Liberty Univ – September 2022-Present
Peer Reviewer
King, J.A. & Ford, K.M. (Eds.) (2024). Christian integration in counselor education. Kendall Hunt Publishing. Peer Reviewer for the following chapters: Chapter 1: Christian integration in the counseling profession, Chapter 8 – Christian integration in career counseling, and Chapter 32 – The role of the Holy Spirit in counseling.
Podcast Co-Host
Rhoads, E., & Barend, A. (Producers). (2023, November 16). Ep. 46: Group counseling: Interrelatedness, meaning in pain, and cognitive complexity- Dr. Denise Daniel [Audio podcast episode]. In RENAR Voice. Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho of Chi Sigma Iota, Liberty University. https://renarvoice.podbean.com/e/episode-45-group-with-drdaniel/
Rhoads, E., & Barend, A. (Producers). (2023, September 8). Ep. 44: Calming practicum anxiety: Being a learner amongst learners- Dr. Joy Mwendwa [Audio podcast episode]. In RENAR Voice. Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho of Chi Sigma Iota, Liberty University. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bvfwn-14a4a01
Rhoads, E., & Barend, A. (2023, May 17). Ep. 44: Servant Leadership- Dr. Mary Deacon [Audio podcast episode]. In RENAR Voice. Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho of Chi Sigma Iota, Liberty University. https://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-smjkp-996a8f
Vernam, J. & Rhoads, E. (November 2022). Theoretical Orientation Mentoring [Virtual Meeting]. RENAR Connection, Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho Honor Society, Liberty University.
Rhoads, E. (September 2022). You’re Graduating… Now What?Invited Speaker. Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho Chapter, Chi Sigma Iota, Liberty University.
Volunteer Association for Creativity in Counseling Conference 2021: Kintsugi: Repair…Renew…Rebuild, December 2021
Volunteer AACC Worldwide Conference, Sept 2021
Advocacy Experience
Rhoads, E. (2021, January 11). Orphaned children and the families who adopt them. Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) winter newsletter.
Word of Life, Hungary – Volunteer English teacher Hungarian children’s camp July 2018 & July 2019
US Northeast Regional Representative for New Horizons for Children (NHFC) April 2010 – July 2013 Orphan Hosting Program
Ukraine – Orphanage Ministry Team Member February 2011
Erica Rhoads, PhD, LPC, NCC 