ABSTRACT
Social justice, a sometimes difficult and challenging notion to conceptualize, is considered to be the “5th force” in counseling. Mastery of this concept is now an important learning outcome of counselor training as reflected in the 2016 CACREP standards. Professional counselors, therefore, are now expected to be able to not only intervene into the lives of clients to help them solve problems and make decisions, but into the social context that affects those lives as well. This chapter explores the nature of social justice as a theoretical construct and its meaning for professional counselors and those who aspire to be leaders in the profession. A concrete example of how counseling leaders can translate this commitment into action for the benefit of clients and society, as well as a set of reflective questions on the nature of social justice and advocacy are provided.
