ABSTRACT
One of the distinguishing characteristics of client advocacy is action. It is not enough that professional counselors talk about the need for a more socially just society; rather, they must become the change agents to address marginalization and societal ills that impact the health and wellness of individuals and whole communities. In this chapter, the authors examine the role of counselors as advocates, providing concrete examples of client advocacy in three different case examples including an immigrant community, a college student with a disability, and an urban Appalachian community. Counselors and Counselors-in-Training are challenged to critically evaluate their own practices and the theories underlying them in order to avoid blaming clients and overlooking the oppressive social systems and attitudes that they may inadvertently perpetuate.
