Acceptance
This artifact addresses the career counseling needs of individuals with disabilities, including employment barriers, accessibility, discrimination, accommodations, and self-efficacy. It applies Social Cognitive Career Theory and Person-Environment Fit Theory to identify appropriate career goals and supports while highlighting community resources and the importance of culturally responsive, individualized counseling.
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"We must do all by love, and nothing by force"
-St. Francis de Sales
How do I practice acceptance in multiple contexts?
I practice acceptance by intentionally meeting each person where they are and recognizing that every individual has their own experiences, values, beliefs, and pace of growth. As a CIT, I am learning that acceptance does not mean that I have to agree with everything a client says or does; rather, it means respecting their dignity and allowing them to be heard without judgment. The quote, “We must do all by love, and nothing by force” reminds me that meaningful change cannot be forced upon someone. In counseling, I strive to create a safe environment where clients feel supported and empowered to make their own decisions rather than feeling pressured to change for me or anyone else. I practice acceptance through active listening, empathy, cultural humility, and remaining open to perspectives that may differ from my own. I also recognize acceptance in my relationships with peers, supervisors, and individuals from different backgrounds by being willing to listen, learn, and acknowledge that I do not have all the answers. As I continue developing as a counselor, I hope to approach each person with compassion and genuine care, remembering that my role is not to force change but to walk alongside clients as they discover their own strengths, values, and direction.
CACREP Common Core Standards (2016)
2.F.5.f (Ethical and culturally relevant strategies for establishing and maintaining in-person and technology-assisted relationships): Counselors understand and apply ethical and culturally responsive strategies when developing and maintaining counseling relationships, including relationships supported through technology.
2.F.2.d (Multicultural and pluralistic characteristics within and among diverse groups): Counselors understand the impact of cultural factors, including cultural identity, values, beliefs, and experiences, on the counseling relationship and recognize the importance of developing cultural awareness and responsiveness when working with diverse clients.
2.F.3.e (Theories and models of counseling): Counselors understand theories and models of counseling and how they inform the counseling process, relationships, and interventions used to support clients.
2.F.2.g (Impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on an individual's views of others): Counselors understand how an individual's cultural heritage, attitudes, beliefs, values, and experiences influence their perceptions of themselves and others.
2.F.2.h (The effects of power and privilege for counselors and clients): Counselors understand how power, privilege, oppression, and marginalization can influence the counseling relationship and clients' experiences and work to provide culturally responsive and equitable counseling services.
ACA Code of Ethics (2014)
A.4.a (Avoiding Harm): Counselors act to avoid harming their clients, trainees, and research participants and take steps to minimize or remedy any harm that may occur.
A.4.b (Personal Values): Counselors are aware of their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors and avoid imposing their values on clients, particularly when clients' values differ from their own. Counselors respect clients' diversity and allow clients to make decisions based on their own beliefs and values.
Program Objectives
Counseling and helping relationships.
Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice.