As a CES, I am guided by transformative learning approaches intricately woven with existential themes emphasizing individuality, choice, responsibility, and the search for meaning. When counselors in training (CITs) participate in disorienting experiences that challenge their current worldviews, it leads to a cycle of reflective discourse and practical application of their new, transformed understandings (Farrelly et al., 2022). I am responsible for providing CITs with the environment where this learning process occurs. As an instructor, I embody a dialectic role, serving as both the catalyst that sparks the turbulence of learning and the supportive guide who accompanies CITs on their journey through this transformative process (Farrelly et al., 2022).

The Instructor

I recognize the significance of embracing diversity and confronting challenges associated with assumptions and biases. Informed by my personal experiences as a student, I am committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that values diverse perspectives and provides a safe space for students to have necessary discussions on differing views. My teaching style mirrors my personality, characterized by empathy, authenticity, and openness, fostering a supportive space for students to explore and grow. Professionally, my background in clinical counseling and education has provided me with valuable insights into the dynamic landscape of the counseling field. Motivated by a passion for guiding emerging counselors, I see my role as an instructor and mentor dedicated to nurturing reflective practitioners capable of transformative learning.

The Student

Teaching CITs is uniquely challenging, as adult learners in counseling bring rich experiences to graduate programs, demanding a specialized and typically more experiential instructional approach (Haddock & Whitman, 2019). My core beliefs regarding adult learners training to be counselors revolve around the potential for profound personal and professional growth through reflective and experiential processes. I embrace teaching strategies that emphasize the acquisition of knowledge and the transformative reevaluation of one's beliefs and assumptions. This is accomplished in the classroom through challenging discussions, role plays, and receiving peer feedback and out of the classroom through assignments such as reflection journals, immersive experiences, and creating personal development plans. My approach integrates both andragogical principles, recognizing adult learners' unique experiences and motivations, and transformative elements that challenge their existing frames of reference.

The Experience

My classroom is designed to be a dynamic space where diverse voices are acknowledged and celebrated, fostering an atmosphere conducive to profound personal and professional development. I weave a tapestry of diverse experiences into the curriculum, recognizing the transformative potential of exposure to varied perspectives. My teaching practices are inclusive, honoring and valuing the diversity within the cohort. I acknowledge my various identities and openly share aspects of my journey, creating a platform for open discussions around the intersectionality of identities of privilege and oppression. This approach cultivates a sense of belonging, respect, and appreciation for diversity's richness in counseling.

My approach to evaluation involves capturing cognitive mastery and the depth of personal and professional transformation. Reflective assessments, discussing personal development plans, and collaborative dialogues will be integral, providing a comprehensive understanding of students' evolving perspectives, skill acquisition, and their journey toward becoming adept and culturally competent counselors.

References 

Farrelly, D., Kaplin, D., & Hernandez, D. (2021). A transformational approach to developing cultural humility in the classroom. Teaching of Psychology, 49(2), 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628321990366

Haddock, L. R., & Whitman, J. S. (2018b). Preparing the educator in counselor education: A Comprehensive Guide to Building Knowledge and Developing Skills. Routledge.