Developing, Delivering, and Sustaining School Counseling Practices Through a Culturally Affirming Lens: (Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies)

Systemic oppression continues to disenfranchise students at the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigrant status, religion, ableism, and economic status. Because of this, school counselors are called to function as advocates and change agents, but often find themselves underprepared to address these oppressive systems in schools. It is vital that school counselors are provided resources that enable them to increase their preparedness and allow them to address oppressive practices within schools as well as work with diverse populations using culturally affirming and antiracist practices. Developing, Delivering, and Sustaining School Counseling Practices Through a Culturally Affirming Lens informs culturally affirming and antiracist professional practice and advocacy work by school counselors. It serves as a learning tool that better prepares school counselors to address the needs of marginalized students and work as effective change agents to disrupt systemic oppression in school settings. Covering topics such as professional identity, racial trauma, and social justice, this book serves as a dynamic resource for school counselor educators, school counselors-in-training, school counselors, directors, supervisors, district leaders and administration, researchers, and academicians as they implement antiracist, social justice, and culturally affirming practices in school settings and academia.

About the Author :
Sarah N. Brant-Rajahn is currently affiliated with Messiah University. Eva M. Gibson is an Assistant Professor at Austin Peay State University. Dr. Gibson received her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University and taught at Tennessee State University and Capella University. Prior to becoming a counselor educator, she spent eleven years in the school system as a licensed school counselor. Dr. Gibson has served as the President for the Tennessee School Counseling Association, the President of the Tennessee Counseling Association, and peer reviewer for the Professional School Counseling journal. Dr. Gibson was the recipient of the Tennessee School Counselor of the year award as well as the Middle Tennessee Middle School Counselor of the Year award. Dr. Gibson represented the state as ASCA’s “2017 Tennessee School Counselor of the Year” during a visit to the White House alongside First Lady Michelle Obama in her final public speech. Her research interests include social justice and targeted interventions. Mariama Cook Sandifer is currently an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia where she serves as the School Counseling Program Coordinator. Dr. Sandifer earned a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans. Prior to counselor education, Dr. Sandifer served 14 years in public schools as a national and state certified school counselor and is a licensed professional counselor supervisor in Georgia. Her research interests include school culture and counseling program implementation, support for marginalized populations, and post degree supervision of school counselors.