Cultural Responsiveness in Counseling: Strategies for Professional Growth

Webinar: Cultural Responsiveness in Counseling: Strategies for Professional Growth Across Career Stages

About the Webinar:

This presentation explores the development of cultural responsiveness and anti-oppressive practices across the career stages of counseling professionals. Participants will examine how cultural humility evolves from early to advanced career stages and how professionals in leadership and educational roles can support the growth of their supervisees, mentees, and students.In the early career stage, counselors build reflective practices, address personal biases, and navigate power dynamics while prioritizing client self-determination. Reflective tools like journaling, supervision, and personal therapy help counselors integrate new learning. Educators and clinical supervisors guide emerging professionals to apply culturally responsive practices and foster cultural humility.As professionals progress into mid-career, they expand their leadership and mentoring capabilities. Clinical supervisors and educators refine their strategies for supporting others' cultural competence, while counselors develop strategies for working with diverse populations. Some professionals may focus on advancing cultural leadership and advocating for inclusivity, while others may concentrate on deepening their clinical practice.

In the advanced career stage, professionals may drive organizational change and advocate for systemic equity if they wish to continue developing or focus on refining their practice. This stage is about enhancing influence within the field, regardless of the path chosen.Participants will leave with actionable tools to enhance their knowledge, support others' growth, and foster inclusive counseling, education, supervision, and leadership environments across all stages of their professional development.

Learning Objectives:

1) Participants will be able to analyze the evolution of cultural humility across early, mid, and advanced career stages and its impact on counseling, teaching, clinical supervision, and leadership within the counseling profession.

2) Participants will be able to recognize culturally responsive strategies appropriate for their current career stage and professional role and apply them to address systemic inequities in their practice.

3) Participants will be able to identify actionable steps for promoting lifelong cultural learning, overcoming systemic challenges, and fostering inclusive practices across different professional contexts.

About the Presenters:

Dr. Traci Bitondo, PhD, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, ACS, is an Assistant Professor at Cadlwell University, where she shares their expertise in Counseling and Art Therapy with future professionals. She holds a Master’s in Counseling specializing in Art Therapy and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is the immediate past President of the a State Mental Health Profession Membership Association and has presented nationally and internationally on trauma treatment, art therapy interventions for special populations, and clinical supervision. She operates a Counseling and Art Therapy practice where they treat mental health clients, supervise emerging professionals, and advise on practice development. Her background includes working in diverse settings with clients facing severe mental illness, individuals in the vision loss and blind community, and providing in-home therapy to families in crisis.

Dr. Annette Vaccaro, EdD, LPAT, LCSW, SCPsyA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, maintains a general practice with a specialty in clinical supervision, in Livingston, NJ. She is the Director of Academic Affairs at Caldwell Universeity within the New Jersey Branch campus. Dr. Vaccaro is also an Associate Professor at Caldwell University and Coordinator of their Art Therapy Programs. She is currently preparing the Post Master's program for online participation from anywhere. Her research interest is in the professional journey of art therapists and psychotherapists.

Dr. Dan Summer, Ph.D., LAC, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPAT, ATCS, is an Associate Professor and chair of the graduate counseling program at Caldwell University. He received his doctorate in Expressive Therapies and has had additional training in modern psychoanalysis and drama therapy techniques. He has published on response artmaking to gun violence, using a sculptural process to express reactivity, and on developing one's eco-identity through interacting with natural materials. Dr. Summer is interested in arts and healing initiatives focusing on social justice and the use of psychedelic integration into counseling practice.