Oct 1, 2026 | Volume 16 - Issue 3
Marcus Adams, Joshua D. Smith, Neal D. Gray
Each year TPC presents an interview with an influential figure in counseling as part of its Lifetime Achievement in Counseling series. This year, Dr. Christian J. Dean discussed important considerations for military-connected individuals and families. With a military career spanning nearly three decades and a counseling career almost as long, Dr. Dean holds valuable insights into military culture, mental health needs of military-connected individuals, and challenges faced by counselors seeking to serve this population. In this interview he clearly identifies gaps in services and potential solutions that are informed by his lived experience and professional expertise. We are grateful for Dr. Dean’s commitment to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families and share his hope for expanded military mental health services.
—J. Richelle Joe, Editor
Disclaimer: The following does not represent the views or opinions of the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Army, the United States Army Reserve, or any other branch or component of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Christian J. Dean, PhD, NCC, LPC-S, LMFT-S, is a professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Divine Mercy University. He was previously a professor at the University of the Cumberlands. He is licensed as a professional counselor/board-approved supervisor (LPC-S) and a marriage and family therapist/board-approved supervisor (LMFT-S) in Louisiana, where he practices at Counseling for Growth, LLC. Dr. Dean is a 28+-year member of the military (Army National Guard and Army Reserve), currently holds the rank of colonel, and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and participated as a collaborative investigator for the DSM-5 Field Trials in Routine Clinical Practice Settings. He works with Spanish-speaking clients, service members, veterans, and a wide variety of other client populations. Dr. Dean is an EMDR-trained therapist and integrates cognitive behavioral therapy in his clinical work. Dr. Dean has presented and published on the use of metaphors in counseling and counselor education, counseling couples, understanding military systems and dynamics, differential diagnosing and processes, and ethical considerations in counseling and marriage and family therapy. He is the author of Ladders and Shovels: How to Climb Out of Emotional Holes and Stop Digging Them and the coeditor of Metaphors in Counselor Education and Supervision as well as Metaphors and Therapy: Enhancing Clinical Supervision and Education.
- What originally inspired you to become a counselor, and how did your time in the military shape your desire to serve veterans, active-duty members, and their families?
I’m a rescuer by nature, which can be a good and, at times, challenging trait. Whenever my friends had something on their mind, I would want to be available to them to discuss what was bothering them. Back in high school, what normally came up as upsetting events was usually relationship troubles, and I found that I wanted to be there for my friends to hear them out, be a listening and compassionate ear, and to figure out how I could be helpful. My passion for helping others led me to major in psychology at the University of New Orleans.
When I enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard, I was already familiar with many military terms and some cultural factors, as I was in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) in high school. I completed Basic Training and my Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where I was military occupational specialty (MOS) qualified as a 13F, fire support specialist. I began working on my graduate degree in counseling at the University of New Orleans and enrolled in Officer Candidate School, where I commissioned as a second lieutenant. I graduated with my master’s in counseling, completed Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (FAOBC), and continued to serve in the Louisiana Army National Guard while I enrolled in my doctoral program in counselor education and supervision at the University of New Orleans. While completing my dissertation, I was alerted that my unit was being mobilized to deploy to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. I was allowed to stay behind a couple of days so that I could walk for graduation and then immediately reported to Fort Hood, Texas, to join my unit.
At that time, I had already received my license as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and was what was then called a counselor intern, also completing my hours toward my license as a professional counselor (LPC); however, I had not had much work in providing counseling with service members or veterans. Upon our deployment, I realized that the medical unit in my brigade did not have any mental health assets, so I connected with the brigade surgeon and advocated for the importance of mental health services to our soldiers. Since I had my doctorate and an independent license, I was allowed to provide counseling services to our soldiers for one day a week at the Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) with oversight from the brigade surgeon. I had a 12-hour day, and all 12 hours were filled before I even started. Additionally, the next week’s clinical day was also full before I even finished my first day. This prompted unit leadership to allocate two days a week, which were also quickly filled. Before I knew it, I was assigned to provide counseling services 6 days a week at 12-hour days, which were all filled almost every week while I served in that capacity.
My time working at the TMC was very rewarding for me, as I could help soldiers in need during their time in a combat deployment. I was able to hear many stories and see the need for mental health resources for service members. I also provided training to unit leadership and medics, and even units outside of our brigade requested training. However, all of that came to an end when a new division assumed operational control over our brigade during a transfer of authority. The incoming unit had a division psychologist, who said that I could not provide counseling, as I was not a psychologist or social worker, the two professions that the U.S. Army allowed to provide counseling services. My brigade now had to find other ways to get mental health services to our soldiers. From then on, I made it part of my mission to continue to provide counseling services and help others be more informed when helping service members, veterans, and their families.
- Who mentored you along the way, and how does this impact how you mentor others today?
Mentorship is something I’ve always valued and continue to value. In terms of mentorship in counseling, I would have to say it goes all the way back to my graduate counseling program. Dr. Ted Remley, Dr. Diana Hulse, Dr. Terry Christensen, and Dr. Barbara Herlihy, to name a few, were some mentors who poured into me and informed who I am as a counselor. On a clinical level, I had the opportunity to work with several clinicians in many capacities who have helped mentor and develop my clinical skills. On the military side, I’ve had many officers and many noncommissioned officers (NCOs) throughout my career who provided some form of mentorship.
Today, I am working on being available to counselors and service members for mentorship. Sometimes mentorship occurs in structured settings, while other times it develops more naturally through conversations and day-to-day interactions. These mentoring moments often happen during phone calls with other soldiers or impromptu meetings during Battle Assembly (BA)/drill. During BA, I’ll have soldiers come up and ask if they could meet with me. Often, there are questions related to career progression, options within the U.S. Army Reserve, and whether to continue to serve. More structured mentorship may include formal developmental counseling within the military leadership context, where assigned tasks, expectations, performance, and professional development goals are discussed with soldiers. Regular touchpoints may also be used to explore goals, thoughts, and concerns. In the counseling world, mentorship may involve touching base with counselors who email or call regarding private practice, joining the U.S. Armed Forces, research questions, etc. I also have monthly meetings with counselors who request more ongoing mentorship and guidance.
- From your perspective, what are some of the biggest mental health challenges that service members, veterans, and military spouses are facing today?
The culture of the military is one of the biggest challenges. Although mental health services and the overall mental health care of service members, veterans, and their families have gained more attention over the past decade, there is still a lot of work to do. Different branches of the military have their own challenges with their view and approach to mental health, where some may be more understanding and supportive, while there is still a significant stigma with others. Many [individuals] are concerned about how they will be treated or seen by their fellow service members if they admit to or get help for mental health–related concerns. Again, there has been some improvement, but we can still grow a lot in this area.
Some solutions with mental health services include adjusting the types of free services provided through Military OneSource. For example, anyone diagnosed or who meets criteria for a diagnosis of most psychiatric disorders is not allowed to use such services, as Military OneSource only provides “nonmedical” counseling. Therefore, having such services available to service members and their families regardless of clinical conditions would prove to be helpful and expand the free services to those who need them the most. Additional support services such as Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC) and Military OneSource can be helpful resources; however, limitations related to clinical conditions and affordability can still create barriers to care for many service members and their families. Access to care also continues to be a challenge, particularly for service members and families attempting to navigate systems such as TRICARE, Military OneSource, and VA-related services. Increasing the number of counselors who are educated about and willing to work within these systems could greatly improve access to mental health support for military populations.
The [Department of] Veterans Affairs (VA) and related VA clinics and Vet Centers do provide mental health services to veterans who are registered with the VA. These services are more available to veterans throughout the country. The VA also does provide some community-based care options where they contract with local providers to help meet the needs of veterans. However, getting enrolled in and navigating through the VA system can be challenging. Counselors can learn about ways to assist veterans in enrolling with the VA and to provide additional support when needed.
If a service member records a mental health diagnosis during a Periodic Health Assessment (PHA), then the service member’s records may be reviewed for Fit-for-Duty evaluations, which may impact their ability to serve in certain specialties and/or their duty status. Even on the application for security clearances, there are questions about treatment; however, marriage and couples counseling are excluded from the areas that may need to be reported. Still, military leadership encourages service members to be honest about their experiences so that adequate services may be provided through referrals and organic assets.
- What do you believe are some of the most common misconceptions civilian counselors have about working with service members, veterans, and military families, and how can the profession better prepare clinicians to serve this community effectively?
Whether it be a misconception or lack of awareness, the first thing that comes to mind is the importance many service members and veterans place on military service and culture. A counselor knowing their own family’s military history can help demonstrate that they honor and respect service members and veterans. Understanding the culture, values, structure, and terminology of at least one military branch can be helpful, and broader knowledge across branches can be even more beneficial.
Another misconception is that all service members and veterans are closed off and not open to counseling. There are many within the military community who embrace counseling. Part of the challenge is helping military populations find mental health professionals who are knowledgeable, engaged, and genuinely invested in understanding military culture. Understanding the structure, ranks, and terminology can help facilitate this process for counselors. I encourage professionals interested in working with service members, veterans, and their families to consider engaging in experiential learning and immersive experiences. Some examples include engaging in trainings through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Consortium for Deployment Psychology, and Military OneSource, and participating in volunteer opportunities through the United Service Organizations (USO). Counselors may also want to shadow or connect with Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC) to better understand the experiences and challenges of service members, veterans, and their families.
From a clinical perspective, a common misconception is that combat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from combat are the main challenges experienced by service members and veterans. Many service members never see combat or necessarily directly engage in combat operations. Unfortunately, PTSD may present due to other traumatic experiences like military sexual trauma (MST) or interpersonal trauma related to experiences of being neglected, abused, or mistreated by leaders, other service members, and/or the system in general. Counselors can better serve service members and veterans from this perspective.
One common theme is the focus on the service member and their experiences while inadvertently ignoring the impact on the entire family system. The spouse and children of service members may have their heart skip a beat if they see individuals in uniform pulling up to their house due to potential bad news about the service member that is deployed. For some, it could be the phone ringing when they haven’t heard from their deployed service member for several days. The trauma of their deployed service member being in a dangerous environment in and of itself can take a toll on the entire family system. Although children are often thought of as resilient, these experiences can really impact military families, resulting in challenging emotional equilibrium. Counselors can benefit from considering the impact of military service on the entire family system while exploring such potential experiences and related impact.
This also ties into how counselors are trained and how we support this population overall. Counselors can seek out training on military culture, rank structure, etc. Some training programs are available for free, which is great. Attending specialization certification programs on working with service members, veterans, and their families can also be helpful. I do, however, caution the counseling profession in the potential impact of “doing more” than other mental health professions to get equal footing when it comes to recognition as uniformed service providers.
My concern with the counseling profession having to “prove” that they are competent/capable to serve in certain situations will result in additional trainings beyond what other mental health professions may have to complete. For example, to be credentialed and seeking Substance Abuse Professional status with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), a counselor must have the Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) certification through NBCC; however, licensed physicians, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists don’t require an additional certification. I find it concerning that counselors are singled out and required to do more than other mental health professionals to be considered “good enough.” I support additional training on knowledge and competencies related to working with service members, veterans, and their families; however, I don’t support such training being a requirement to put counselors on equal footing with other mental health professions.
Mental health professionals can work on advocacy strategies to encourage the Department of Defense to adjust the free care (i.e., Military OneSource, MFLC) being provided to allow more clinically focused conditions to be treated. This may include contacting federal congressional and Senate representatives to inform them of these opportunities and to influence change, potentially through legislation. Mental health professionals can also volunteer with programs like the Give an Hour program to provide pro bono services or independently offer pro bono services to service members, veterans, and their families. Mental health professionals can also connect with Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) to access free training on military culture, values, etc. Enrolling as a TRICARE provider can also improve access to mental health services. At least in my community, I’ve found that more private practice providers are going to cash pay–only. I invite all mental health professionals to consider becoming a TRICARE provider to assist service members and their families with needed clinical services. Lastly, [I recommend] working with the VA to become a Community Care Network (CCN) provider as well as establishing a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA) with the VA to provide services not available at VA clinics and healthcare facilities within the community.
- When working with military clients, what approaches or techniques have you found to be most effective?
I find that working on rapport is essential. Asking the client about their military service, to include branch, component (i.e., active duty, National Guard, or reserve), rank, deployment, MOS, duty stations, etc. is important. If a counselor has served or has family members who have served, only share that information if they can answer similar questions about their family’s service history. For example, if a counselor shared that their mother was in the U.S. Army, they should then be ready to answer what component, rank, MOS, duty stations, etc. By knowing that information, it sends a message that you value military service, are invested in learning about it, and can speak to your family’s military service.
Many service members and veterans find meaning and purpose in their military service. Exploring those experiences has been helpful in my work with both populations. Their experience can include having a 20-year-old overseeing several other service members and equipment potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Once they leave military service, finding a job with similar responsibilities, meaning, and purpose may be difficult. Helping veterans find other ways to find purpose and meaning can be greatly beneficial.
Due to the physical and often interpersonal trauma experienced by service members, being trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) can also be very helpful, as such approaches can help service members and veterans work through those traumatic events. Integrating cognitive-based approaches can also be helpful; however, I have received feedback from several service members and veterans that exposure therapy does not accommodate their needs, which necessitates alternate methods of therapy and/or treatment.
- Looking back on your career, what do you see as your most meaningful contribution to the counseling profession, particularly in supporting the military community?
As part of my mission, I started submitting proposals for presentations at conferences to help train counselors and marriage and family therapists on military culture, as well as ways to connect with service members, veterans, and their families. I also provided training at Yellow Ribbon Events, where service members and their families received education about reintegration following deployments. Earlier in my career, I had the opportunity to provide training to medics within the Belize Defense Force through the State Partnership Program between the Louisiana Army National Guard and Belize.
In addition to training and education efforts, I have also focused heavily on advocacy work related to the inclusion of counselors and marriage and family therapists within military and veteran systems of care. I’ve advocated for the inclusion of counselors and marriage and family therapists as uniformed behavioral science officers in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and U.S. Army National Guard, as well as for the need for the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire more counselors and marriage and family therapists.
The VA currently approves internships exclusively within profession-specific programs. While the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) permits any independently licensed mental health professionals, such as licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, or licensed psychologists to serve as site supervisors, the VA’s current policy requires that only licensed counselors supervise counseling interns. Expanding supervisory eligibility to include all independently licensed mental health professionals recognized by CACREP could help increase internship opportunities and strengthen the development of future counseling professionals within VA systems.
I have written a white paper on how the U.S. Army could save money while also providing qualified behavioral science officers faster if they would create new areas of concentration (AOC) for both counselors and marriage and family therapists. The U.S. Army started a Master of Social Work (MSW) program where soldiers would receive a commission, be put on active duty, and complete a 14-month MSW program. I highlighted how even after the 14-month program, those MSWs would need to complete roughly 3 years of post-degree supervised experience before they are fully licensed. I point out how the U.S. Army could save hundreds of thousands of dollars, per officer, between the base pay, benefits, etc., over the 4+ years if they would create a new AOC for counselors and for marriage and family therapists. I will be sending this document up through military channels to explore potential inclusion.
In the past, I have corresponded with ACA, AMHCA, NBCC, and AAMFT regarding advocacy efforts to have counselors’ and marriage and family therapists’ inclusion with military service. I’ve also served as a pro bono counselor with the Give an Hour program. I completed a study exploring the uniformed service experience of counselors and marriage and family therapists and will have the results submitted to a journal in the next couple of months. The hope is that the results of the study can help the ACA, AMHCA, NBCC, and AAMFT with advocacy efforts to include counselors and marriage and family therapists as uniformed behavioral science officers within the branches of the military.
There is some good news regarding inclusion. Recent updates from the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Services (USPHS) announced the inclusion of licensed professional counselors (LPCs) to become mental health providers to address provider shortages (Schobitz, 2025). The changes made by the USPHS will make it the “first uniformed service with mental health counselors serving as commissioned officers” (Schobitz, 2025, p. 14). Now, advocacy and inclusion efforts will hopefully be easier with other uniformed services (e.g., Army, Air Force, and Navy).
- Finally, if you could leave readers with one message about what it means to serve both in uniform and as a professional counselor, what would that message be?
As a service member, veteran, and professional counselor, I find deep meaning and purpose in my roles as a leader, officer, and counselor. I am proud to serve alongside many dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to support our service members and veterans. While challenges exist—such as navigating disability compensation for service-connected injuries and exposures, and ensuring every individual feels fully valued within support systems—I believe these are opportunities for growth and improvement. These situations often stem from complex processes and communication challenges, not from a lack of care or commitment by leaders, units, or organizations. With continued collaboration and innovation, we can strengthen these systems to better serve those who have served us. In my current leadership role, I work hard to try to make systemic changes that are beneficial to service members, particularly those in my unit. My role as a counselor, service member, and leader has given me the opportunity to be of service to veterans and service members. Advocating for them, exploring solutions and options, and providing direct support has meant the world to me. I hope that other counselors will join the call to support service members, veterans, and their families, as the need is clearly present.
After 25+ years of clinical practice and 28+ years of military service, it is hard to separate the “counselor” in me from the “soldier.” I do integrate counseling skills in my interactions with soldiers in my unit and highly encourage counseling for all service members who are in need. I’m not their counselor and I don’t provide counseling services, but I do use active listening, empathy, and unconditional positive regard in many of my interactions. I’m extremely proud of my 28+ years of military service, and I hope to continue until my retirement. I sometimes think about what it will be like when I must hang up the uniform and how a big part of me will be gone, given that I’ve spent more than half of my life wearing it and serving my country. I know I will grieve that part of me; however, I know that I can look back with pride hoping I’ve inspired others and supported everyone I’ve served with.
This concludes the 11th interview for the annual Lifetime Achievement in Counseling Series. TPC is grateful to Marcus Adams, Joshua D. Smith, and Neal D. Gray for providing this interview. Marcus Adams is a graduate student at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Joshua D. Smith, PhD, NCC, LCMHC, is an associate professor at the University of Mount Olive. Neal D. Gray, PhD, LCMHC-S, is a professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Correspondence can be emailed to Marcus Adams at marcus.adams@my.lr.edu.
References
Schobitz, R. (2025, January). Uniformed services opens door to counselors in 2025. Counseling Today, 14.
Jul 25, 2025 | Volume 15 - Issue 2
Wendi L. Ferrell, Joshua D. Smith, Neal D. Gray
Each year TPC presents an interview with an influential veteran in counseling as part of its Lifetime Achievement in Counseling series. This year, Dr. Barbara Herlihy shared insights from her decades-long commitment to the professionalization of counseling and the evolution of the profession’s ethical standards. Dr. Herlihy’s scholarship and service have had a profound effect on how counseling ethics are taught, applied, and revised to remain relevant in an ever-evolving world. In this interview, she connects counselors’ professional ethical obligations to the advancement of social justice and the internationalization of the profession. We are grateful for Dr. Herlihy’s contributions to our profession and for the wisdom that she shared in this interview.
—J. Richelle Joe, Editor
Barbara Herlihy, PhD, NCC, is Professor Emerita in the counselor education program in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of New Orleans. She is a Fellow of the American Counseling Association and is a recipient of the Chi Sigma Iota Thomas J. Sweeney Professional Leadership Award, the SACES Courtland Lee Social Justice Award, and the ACES Distinguished Mentor Award.
A prolific writer, she is co-author (with Dr. Gerald Corey) of the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook and (with Dr. Theodore Remley) of Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling, and co-editor (with Dr. Cassie Storlie) of Counseling Leaders & Advocates. She has authored or co-authored over 100 journal articles and book chapters, primarily on ethics, social justice, and feminist therapy. She serves as Associate Editor for Ethics for Counseling and Values. She has served twice as Chair of the ACA Ethics Committee, and she currently serves as Chair of the ACA Ethics Appeals Committee. In recent years, she has become passionate about furthering the globalization of the counseling profession and has presented seminars and workshops across the United States and in other countries. She currently serves as Co-Director of Global Issues for the International Institute for the Advancement of Counseling Theory.
1. Can you provide more details about your experience as Chair of the ACA Ethics Appeal Committee? What were your key responsibilities, and how did the committee operate in addressing ethical issues in the counseling profession? What drew you to the field of counseling ethics, and what makes this area so meaningful to you, both personally and professionally?
Looking back, I realize I’ve been engaged consistently with the ACA Code of Ethics in some way for several decades now. I’ve served on the ACA Ethics Committee, the ACA Ethics Appeal Committee, and on Ethics Code Revision task forces; co-authored (first with Larry Golden and then with Gerald Corey) the most recent four editions of the ACA Ethical Standards Casebook; and presented on various ethical issues at numerous professional conferences. With this constant engagement, one might think that I can recite the Code of Ethics from memory. No, not even close! However, I do have a feel for how the Code has evolved over the decades to continue to meet the needs of counselors in a constantly changing and increasingly complex world of practice.
That constant evolution is a major reason why ethics has remained interesting and meaningful to me over the years. Opportunities are constantly being created to ponder new and intriguing ethical dilemmas. I’m routinely challenged to refine how I teach ethics to help students develop finely honed ethical reasoning skills, to research and write about ethical issues as they emerge, and to serve the counseling profession through membership on committees and task forces.
Of all the committees on which I have served, I would say that the ACA Ethics Committee and the Ethics Appeal Committee are the most challenging. Ethics and Ethics Appeals Committee members are charged with reviewing all the evidence provided in a complaint or an appeal and then rendering a judgment. If a counselor is found to be in violation of one or more ethical standards, then the appropriate consequence (which can be anything from a recommendation to change a particular practice to permanent expulsion from ACA) must be chosen and applied. Because counselors are trained to be nonjudgmental and because we gravitate toward forgiveness and compassion rather than imposing punishments, the entire process can be very uncomfortable. In my experience, the ACA members who take on these committee assignments take them very seriously and are keenly aware that their decisions can be consequential. Thankfully, these committees typically have only a very small number of complaints to adjudicate over the course of a year. Formal complaints of ethical violations against counselors are rare, considering the thousands of ACA members who are in practice at any given time, and appeals are even more uncommon. This speaks to the integrity of the practitioners of our profession!
2. Given the current climate, ethical concerns are becoming even more pressing. What are your thoughts on the tension between personal and professional values, and how counselors can uphold ethical standards while respecting cultural diversity and individual client autonomy?
Conflicts between personal and professional values is an issue that jumped into bold relief about 15 years ago as a result of two court cases, Ward v. Wilbanks (2010, 2012) and Keeton v. Augusta State University (2011), in which students were dismissed from their master’s programs in counseling after they refused to counsel clients regarding the clients’ same-sex affectional relationships. The students argued that these relationships were not acceptable according to their religious beliefs. These cases spawned considerable discussion about values conflicts in counseling. Counselor educators grappled with how to best teach students to set aside, or “bracket,” their personal values when entering a counseling session. A body of professional literature developed around managing conflicts between personal and professional values and around the ethical decision-making process when values conflicts exist.
The difficulties associated with counseling clients whose values differ from those of the counselor re-emerged during the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, a time when it seemed that most Americans had such strong political feelings that they found it difficult if not impossible to really hear each other’s viewpoints. Again, counselors struggled when clients expressed views with which the counselors strongly disagreed. Although the specific values-laden issues were different from those that emerged around the students who were dismissed from their training programs, counselors sometimes struggled to set aside their personal values so they could be fully present for their clients. To me, it seems inevitable that in our diverse culture, these issues will continue to emerge. Our work as counselors will be challenged by values conflicts, and I believe we will need to remain vigilant to our own experiences, and work to identify both our explicit and implicit biases so that we can continue to honor and respect our clients without judging their personal value systems. We are a richly diverse society, and as I’ve been saying for many years, multicultural competence and ethical practice go hand in hand—neither one can exist without the other.
3. Given your extensive knowledge and experience in counseling, how do you maintain your motivation and enthusiasm for your work, especially during difficult periods? What aspects of counseling resonate most with you, and are there any particular initiatives or methods that you’re currently excited about?
I have been blessed with the incredibly good fortune of working in what is, for me, the perfect profession. Knowing that as a counselor I may have touched some lives in meaningful ways, and that as a counselor educator I’ve had the privilege of mentoring young professionals who went on to make significant contributions, has been more than enough to maintain my motivation and enthusiasm. Seeking out my own counselor whenever I hit a rough spot on my own personal journey has also sustained me.
Ethics, multicultural competence, social justice, and feminist therapy have been consistent themes throughout my work. At this point in my journey, I am also passionate about the internationalization of counseling. I hope to help find ways to extend helping and healing, whether or not the process is formally called “counseling,” to serve marginalized communities across the globe. I’m also intrigued by the broad spectrum of counseling theory, and how we can connect it more directly to effective practice, particularly with culturally diverse client populations in the United States and internationally.
4. Would you take a moment and share your thoughts on the internationalization of counseling—specifically, how counseling practices are expanding across borders and adapting to different cultural contexts? What are the challenges and benefits of these cross-cultural exchanges, and how does the profession develop effective practice across diverse populations?
One of the exciting projects in which I am currently involved is a “world mapping” initiative, sponsored by the International Institute for the Advancement of Counseling Theory and spearheaded by Dr. Ed Neukrug of Old Dominion University. Along with Dr. Courtland C. Lee, I co-chair the Global Subgroup that is engaged in the mapping project. This year we are exploring South America; our incredible graduate assistant, Kacey Bunting, is presently conducting interviews with leaders who engage in and teach counseling/helping/healing in South American countries. (We refer broadly to “counseling/helping/healing” as many countries don’t have formal counseling professions.) As we analyze Kacey’s interviews, we hope to learn about approaches that are unique to these countries and the extent to which and how Euro-American theories and practices are being adapted. We’re eager to see what we can learn about mental health and the helping process in other countries. Of course, many challenges exist, including language barriers and lack of contact information that would enable us to identify and connect with key people. However, the anticipated benefits far outweigh the challenges. In addition to helping counselors and counseling students improve their “global citizenship,” an attribute that Dr. Lee has emphasized in his writings, this project should provide us with a wealth of information that can be used to improve our counseling practices here in the United States, particularly with culturally diverse clients.
5. How have you seen the counseling profession evolve over the years? What changes, either positive or negative, have you observed?
Over my several decades as a counselor and counselor educator, I have witnessed incredible changes in our profession. I think these changes are reflected in the ways that the ACA Code of Ethics has evolved since it was first published in 1961. The original contained no section on technology, of course, but it also made no mention of diversity or multicultural competence. Early versions made what seem now to be rather simplistic statements like “dual relationships should be avoided.” Over the years, the code has been revised periodically to reflect a constantly changing and increasingly complex world of practice.
Overall, I think the most significant change in a positive direction has been the increased professionalization of counseling. Hard-won battles have resulted in the achievement of counselor licensure in all 50 states, the establishment of training standards, and the inclusion of counselors in diverse work settings like the military, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, and business and industry.
6. Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of counseling, and what do you see as potential challenges or boundaries that might delay progress or limit growth in the profession? How do your relationships with counseling associations and organizations influence or shape the evolution of your practice, and do you see any potential challenges or support coming from these affiliations?
The counseling profession in the United States is, inevitably, a microcosm of our society. I am concerned that relationships among our professional associations seem to be divisive in some ways, and that right now our profession does not seem to speak with one voice to our public. My hope is that we will be able to focus on our common purpose and use our united voice to help ensure that social justice issues have a prominent position in our politics, our lives, and our work. Professional associations such as ACA and NBCC have been instrumental in my own professional development, and they continue to be a source of support. I am honored to have had opportunities to give back, in small measure, what I have received, through service to professional associations. If I may end with a word to early-career counselors and counselor educators—those service opportunities exist for you, as well. I hope you will get involved!
This concludes the 10th interview for the annual Lifetime Achievement in Counseling Series. TPC is grateful to Wendi L. Ferrell, Joshua D. Smith, and Neal D. Gray for providing this interview. Wendi L. Ferrell is a graduate candidate at the University of Mount Olive. Joshua D. Smith, PhD, NCC, LCMHC, is an assistant professor at the University of Mount Olive. Neal D. Gray, PhD, LCMHC-S, is a professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Correspondence can be emailed to Joshua Smith at jsmith@umo.edu.
Feb 7, 2022 | Volume 12 - Issue 1
Joshua D. Smith, Neal D. Gray
Each year TPC presents an interview with a seminal figure in counseling as part of its Lifetime Achievement in Counseling series. This year I am honored to introduce Dr. Mariaimeé Gonzalez. She is a professor of counselor education, the chair of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Antioch University Seattle, and a transformational leader and advocate. Collectivism grounds and infuses her work and her practice of mentorship as community building and a key strategy for increasing diversity in the counseling profession. I am grateful to Dr. Joshua Smith and Dr. Neal Gray for bringing the contributions and vision of Dr. Gonzalez to TPC readers. —Amie A. Manis, Editor
Mariaimeé “Maria” Gonzalez (she/her/ella), PhD, LPC, was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the United States. She earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and moved to Seattle, Washington, in 2014 to become a faculty member at Antioch University Seattle (AUS), located on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, past and present. Dr. Gonzalez is the chair of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Program and is the co-founder of the Antioch University Latinx Mental Health & Social Justice Institute, which brings together community-engaged research, service, training, and community partnerships to promote the mental health and well-being of Latinx/e people. She truly enjoys teaching in the master’s and doctoral programs at AUS and is passionate about her work with other accomplices in liberation. She is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Missouri and an approved supervisor in the state of Washington. Dr. Gonzalez currently serves as the president of the American Counseling Association (ACA) of Washington (2020–22), chair of ACA’s International Committee (2022), president elect-elect for the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES), and ACA parliamentarian for 2021–22. She served as coeditor of Experiential Activities for Teaching Social Justice and Advocacy Competence in Counseling and is a board member for the WACES Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision. Her research passions are global mental health, clinical supervision, Latinx/e human rights, counselor and counselor educator professional identity development, correctional counseling, liberation psychology, social justice and advocacy counseling, and anti–human trafficking advocacy. She has been involved with global mental health and advocacy for about 15 years and served as a United Nations delegate to advocate for global mental health, especially during the COVID pandemic. Dr. Gonzalez has spent over 20 years working through the paradigm of mental liberation, which includes global community and mentorship. She is currently a WACES mentor and enjoys spending time with her loved ones and community.
In this interview, Dr. Gonzalez discusses her work as a mentor, barriers facing the Latinx/e community, and advice for future counseling professionals.
- You have recently been recognized for your work in mentorship. What is the role of a successful mentor in counselor education?
The role of mentorship in counselor education is essential for creating community and supporting the future generation of mental health professionals. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) mentions mentorship in the standard section 6.B.3.i, “the role of mentoring in counselor education.” Based on its importance, I believe mentorship should be promoted more often in the counseling profession and in programs.
A successful mentor in counselor education is someone who can provide a deeper perspective to a mentee on how to navigate counselor education and counseling environments through a lens of liberation. Mentorship can be conceptualized as a form of community building that allows for the mentor and mentee to learn from one another. The mentor can be a steward of the profession and provide support for the mentee to move forward with their professional and personal goals, values, and community building.
Research suggests that women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) folx are more likely than other groups to share that mentoring was an important component of their career. It is important that counseling professionals build their village of trusted colleagues to accompany them on their journey and foster the path of liberation as a counselor and/or counselor educator. Mentors can be part of this village and provide an environment that is supportive of mentees’ growth as individuals and as members of the counseling profession. By learning from one another, we can continue to be bound in our liberation and help the counseling profession evolve toward reducing oppression, creating space for all our gifts and stories, and lifting each other up.
- What are the benefits and challenges associated with mentorship that you have experienced? How did you navigate these challenges?
The primary benefit I have experienced with mentorship is community. As someone who leans into community for strength and support, I find mentorship to be an expansion of this concept. It can be healing to have someone there to listen to or consult with us about a variety of professional issues. I have noticed over the years more students and new professionals intentionally looking for mentors because they want someone with whom they can discuss professional goals and someone who will provide a brave place for conversations about how to navigate cultural spaces and tap into their own cultural capital. More BIPOC folx and women seek out mentors to help them learn how to fully utilize their own cultural knowledge, values, and gifts in the counseling profession. Another benefit of mentorship is being present for one’s story. As a mentor, it is an honor to walk beside someone on their journey. I feel I learn so much from my mentees and get excited about ways we can continue to encourage this profession to evolve and create community for future professionals.
Mentorship, like any relationship, takes time and nurturing. I have found that it is helpful to discuss with your mentee their goals, personal expectations of the relationship, personal learning styles, cultural values, time commitment, and their support system/village. At times, mentees have had a need for personal support that was more suited for their counselor or therapist. Understanding the boundaries of the role of the mentor–mentee relationship is part of understanding our roles and being ethical professionals.
- What do you consider to be your major contribution to the development of the counseling profession and why?
My voice is part of the collective consciousness of my loved ones and my community, including my ancestors. I think we all have power in our voices, and we each bring a unique perspective to this profession. My journey through mental health counseling, social justice, and higher education took roots early in my personal life as I overcame a series of challenging life events. Transitioning from Puerto Rico to the United States as a young child, overcoming poverty, and enduring the tragic loss of a loved one were mile markers along the path that has led me toward a career focused on social justice, mental health counseling, and counselor education. From my humble origins to chairing a clinical mental health counseling program at AUS, my professional and personal journey has prepared me to be deeply engaged in a profession that has provided purpose and an opportunity to create change in my world. As a lifelong social justice advocate, I have been passionate to live a life rooted in liberation and have used different paths to implement this. Over my career, I have had the honor to teach thousands of counselors-in-training and counselor educators-in-training, work with clients from all walks of life, publish research to foster social justice and advocacy, supervise and mentor, and be involved with leadership on many levels.
In my current state and national leadership roles, I work to promote a community in which we all strive to honor one another while creating a collective bond. Within this bond, we meet at the center of compassion while implementing our individual and communal gifts, strengths, commonalities, and differences. With this collective unity, we discover what connects us as professionals so we can expand our existing journeys, thus impacting how we interact with our counseling profession. The counseling profession reflects who we are and vice versa. This includes our voices, our stories, and our truths; therefore, if we evolve, we can continue to grow as a counseling profession. I have the honor to be the co-founder and co-director of a Latinx social justice mental health institute, ACA of Washington board chair, ACA parliamentarian 2021–22, president-elect-elect of WACES, chair of a counseling program, and chair of ACA’s International Committee 2021–22. In all these roles, the goal has been to create a community in which we can provide support, resources, and opportunity for voices to be heard and for change to occur. I believe my main contributions are part of a larger story, much greater than myself. This includes honoring those who have paved the way for me and many others to be part of this profession, and as a way to keep their legacy alive, I work to co-create communities rooted in social justice within our profession and in supporting the next generation of counselors as they focus on helping the professional landscape evolve to a place of more liberated thought.
- As the co-founder and director of the Latinx Mental Health & Social Justice Institute, what current barriers do you see this population facing and what does advocacy look like in your current role?
More than 19% of the U.S. population self-identify as Hispanic or Latine/x, making people of Latin origin the nation’s largest racial/ethnic minority (Lopez et al, 2021). Approximately 1 in 10 Latine/x individuals with a mental health issue uses mental health services from a general health care provider. Current barriers impacting the Latine/x population with regard to mental health are lack of accessible health services, lack of Spanish-speaking professionals, lack of culturally responsive treatment that aligns with Latine/x values, stigma in the community around mental health, and the need for better health care policies for all Latine/x individuals, including those who are undocumented (American Psychiatric Association & Lisotto, 2017). To tackle these barriers, we need to address systemic inequities on the macro, meso, and micro levels.
Currently, my advocacy is focused on growing our Latinx Mental Health & Social Justice Institute at AUS (https://latinxinstitute.antioch.edu). The Institute provides leadership for community-engaged research and service through capacity building and authentic partnerships with community stakeholders to promote impactful improvements in the health and well-being of Latine/x communities regionally, nationally, and internationally. We hope to help address barriers by creating a community of Latine/x professionals who will be accomplices in our liberation, working together to dismantle the oppressive systems that have impacted our communities, create opportunities for change rooted in liberation, and use our cultural stories, strengths, and values to guide our practices. We offer a master’s-level certificate in Latinx mental health and social justice, workshops to learn culturally responsive practices, partnerships with different nonprofit organizations, continuing education opportunities, an annual symposium during Hispanic Heritage Month, counseling services at our university’s clinic, community building, research, mentorship, training, global engagement, and cultural justice and advocacy. All efforts and roles I participate in are based on principles of social justice, human rights, and inclusion respective to intersections of one’s cultural Latinx narrative.
- What three challenges to the counseling profession as it exists today concern you most?
In the last 20 years, the average college tuition has increased by 30%. With the rising costs of higher education, more students are taking out student loans, and this debt is a burden that weighs more heavily on today’s college graduates than any generation that came before them. Due to the financial barriers, this impacts the demographic landscape of who enters the profession, quality of life, job satisfaction, and other factors. As a profession, we need to continue working on advancing and ensuring that licensed professional counselors can have seamless portability of their licenses when moving to other states, practicing across state lines, and engaging in telecounseling. This issue was illuminated during the COVID pandemic. We need to also work toward eliminating barriers that build a wall between our profession and the needs of our communities. Specifically, we need to work on decolonizing our profession. This includes recognizing that for many BIPOC individuals, the trauma from colonization and oppression impacts the mental health of individuals, families, and communities and the process of freeing ourselves from mental and systemic oppression. And last, we need to ensure adequate and equitable reimbursement for professional counselors in all settings. This means that all professional counselors need to be included as providers under all public and private insurance plans, especially Medicare.
- What needs to change in the counseling profession for these concerns to be successfully resolved?
We need to find a way to provide financial options for students pursing degrees in counseling and counselor education. This means intentionally creating a diverse pipeline of counselors and counselor educators through offering more scholarships, setting up state funding programs for counseling programs—more grants and university initiatives—and offering more easily accessible public service student loan forgiveness. In addition to eliminating financial barriers, we need to engage in practices to decolonize our profession. This includes decolonizing counseling theories, clinical practices, training programs, policies, research practices, leadership models, financial structures, and other systemic factors that create oppressive barriers. By dismantling systems of oppression, we can move toward a place of mental liberation and support liberatory practices in collaboration with the clients and communities in which we live and serve. When I think of liberation, I lean into the words of activist, Indigenous Australian (or Murri) artist, and academic, Lilla Watson, which she presented in a speech to the UN and attributed to her work with an Aboriginal Rights group in Queensland: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together” (1985). As a profession, let’s continue to work toward a place in which we are bound in our liberation, freeing ourselves from oppression, and continue to heal collectively.
For the opportunity to heal, accessibility and inclusion are important for our profession to create community and connections. Currently, ACA has a strategic plan to address the challenges of licensure portability. They are working on a Counseling Compact, which “is an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without a need for multiple licenses” (National Center for Interstate Compacts, 2022). The Counseling Compact is to help counselors have easier access to practice across state lines, which includes telehealth options, which will also allow clients more access to a diverse range of professional mental health counselors.
ACA and NBCC have been working for years on lobbying efforts to pass legislation that would allow for licensed professional mental health counselors to be reimbursed by Medicare. ACA’s and NBCC’s Government Affairs teams are working hard to get this legislation passed, but we should also get involved. We urge counselors to contact their state senators and ask for their support on this initiative. Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program. Opening its access to licensed professional counselors would increase access to services for BIPOC folx, people of lower socioeconomic status, and the older population. Medicare covers more than 43 million people age 65 or older and more than 10 million Americans with disabilities. Many of these folx are in communities with limited access to mental health services and/or the services lack diversity in professionals. As professional counselors in and around these communities, we should strive to create and then join the solution to accessible health care.
- If you were advising current counseling leaders, what advice would you give them about moving the counseling profession forward?
Listen. I would advise leaders to listen to the members and stakeholders. There are many ways in which we can work toward evolving our profession, but we need to listen to one another in order to do this together. I would encourage current leaders to support and mentor leaders from communities that have been silenced or not invited to the table. As leaders, we need to think of the next generation and be thoughtful about supporting all communities, especially BIPOC leaders. As BIPOC leaders, we have many gifts to offer and need to bring our villages with us. As stated earlier, we are all bound together in liberation, so let’s collectively lead into a more inclusive future of our profession.
This concludes the seventh interview for the annual Lifetime Achievement in Counseling Series. TPC is grateful to Joshua D. Smith, PhD, NCC, LCMHC, and Neal D. Gray, PhD, LCMHC-S, for providing this interview. Joshua D. Smith is an assistant professor at the University of Mount Olive. Neal D. Gray is a professor and Chair of the School of Counseling and Human Services at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Correspondence can be emailed to Joshua Smith at jsmith@umo.edu.
References
American Psychiatric Association, & Lisotto, M. (2017). Mental health disparities: Hispanics and Latinos. Council on Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Hispanic-Latino.pdf
Lopez, M. H., Krogstad, J. M., & Passel , J. S. (2021, September 23). Who is Hispanic? Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/09/23/who-is-hispanic
National Center for Interstate Compacts. (2022, January 30). Counseling compact. https://counselingcompact.org
Watson, L. (1985, July 15–26). The World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace 1985. United Nations.
