Leadership & Advocacy

Engage in Leadership and Advocacy philosophy:

• Self-exploration
• Understand the leadership theories and skills
• Listen and be present
• Collaboration and maintain communication
• Understand the current trends and political issues to identify how counselors daily work being shaped
• Inspire others
• Learn more about advocacy model, leadership roles, strategies to respond crises
• Be responsible
• Improve credibility

Both in counseling professions and academic world, leadership and advocacy take a critical place. Foundations of my understanding about advocacy and leadership started during my work as a professional school counselor at a school setting. One of the most important aspects of the school counseling profession is advocating for clients/students. The definition of advocacy includes the action taken on behalf of clients, students, and counseling profession to promote human worth (CACRAP). In one another definition, Lee (1998) defined advocacy as "the process or act of arguing or pleading for a cause or proposal" (p. 8). The definition indicates that in addition to intervening with an individual's life, counselors should also serve as an agent for social changes. That would promote individuals human worth and potential by eliminating the systemic barriers. Leadership takes a critical role once you become strong advocates. Therefore, having a high quality of leadership skills and becoming strong advocates are crucial to be most effective.

Leadership/Advocacy goal

• Take an official position in one of the organizations FCA, FSCA (e.g., region representative, committee chair, graduate representative etc.)
• Volunteer at conferences (ACES, ACA)
• Continue volunteering within the Counseling Education Department
• Take a more active role in Chi Sigma Iota Beta Chapter by attending meetings, providing contributions, and writing essays for Newsletters.

Leadership and Advocacy Activities:

• 2015 and 2016, Prospective Doctoral Student Q&A, Interviewer and Volunteer for orientation, College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
• 2015 and 2016, Prospective Master’s Student Interviewer, College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
• 2016 Volunteer to edit videos to recruit participants Florida Counseling Association and Conference. The video can be watched by clicking here.
• 2014-17 Member of Chi Sigma Iota Beta Chapter. Participate meetings and provide support. Published an article on the CSI Beta's Fall 2016 Newsletter. Please click here to read the article.

Advocacy and Professional Activities:

• American Counseling Association (ACA) 2015-2016
• Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) 2015-2016
• Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) 2015-2016
• Florida Counseling Association (FCA) 2015 – Present
• Florida Association of Counselor Education & Supervision (FACES), FCA Division 2015- present
• American School Counselor Association (ASCA) 2012-2014
• Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) 2012-2014
• First Coast School Counselor Association 2012-2014
• Guidance and Psychological Counseling Community, Bursa, Turkey 2005-2009