These textbooks were designed to prepare counselors with privileged identities to work with clients like me. What they didn’t consider is that graduate students from diverse backgrounds would also be reading them, and that we, too, need training on how to work with clients who hold privileged identities.
Tag: #counseling
Speaking Up, Showing Up: Advocacy as a Core Value
Advocacy requires us to show up when our presence can make a difference. Whether through protests, community involvement, or simply speaking up in meetings, each action shapes the future we want to see.
What My Zumba Instructor Taught Me About Being a Therapist
That is what I hope to bring to my clients: a sense that no matter what they reveal, no matter how chaotic things may feel, I am right there with them. I want to be the therapist who knows the “dance” well enough to improvise when needed.
My Creed: A Commitment to Humanity
I believe in the healing power of human connection, in the role of counseling to restore hope and dignity, and in my duty to listen, to advocate, and to serve with compassion.
Understanding Recovery and Medications
One of the most impactful moments this quarter came from attending an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting for my Addiction Counseling class. It was my first time experiencing one, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I chose a meeting focused on the LGBTQIA+ community, and what stood out to me most was the deep sense of welcome and connection in the room.
Hope is a Deliberate Practice
Do not forget for a second that we placed them in office to champion our communities, and it is up to us to hold them accountable. We need to understand that political outreach is an important part of our community engagement, as it can ensure that hope expands, gathers momentum, and becomes part of a collective drive for positive change.
Hope Is the Thread that Connects Us
Hope, once awakened, is meant to be acted upon. By joining forces with others who hold a similar sense of possibility, we tap into a group energy that may inspire even hesitant observers to give progress a chance. When people unite around shared intentions, they form a powerful base that lifts each participant.
Transactional Living: How Consumerism Distorts Our Relationships
This mindset isolates us, transforming the world into a series of transactions and eroding the bonds that make life meaningful. Recognizing the grip of this mindset allows us to refocus on our humanity, which is a shared space where connections are built not on what we pay, but on who we are.
Welcoming 2025: Winter Quarter and Beyond
The year 2025 also holds two other key markers on my path to licensure: Residency II in the spring and Practicum in the fall. Although the fall start date feels distant, the search for Practicum sites starts now. I am currently reaching out to potential locations and will soon begin the application process.
CBT Trainings with the Beck Institute
In a previous blog post, I shared my intention to explore Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as my first theoretical orientation in preparation for Practicum and Internship in 2025. As the fall quarter concludes, I have enrolled in a few specialized CBT trainings through the prestigious Beck Institute.
Roque Neto 