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has has been pivotal to to legislative successes “I want to to to emphasize the collaboration I I think it’s so important to to avoid focusing on on what separates us us and instead recognize
our our common interests of of ghting on on on behalf
of of our our communities legislators also don’t have much patience for in- ghting it it it simply undermines the the message and prevents positive change ” At the the 2019 WCA conference Dr DeDiego and and colleagues coordinated a a a a a a a a panel of legislators and and lobbyists to to to empower counselors to to be advocates As a a a a a a a counselor counselor educator Dr DeDiego infuses pedagogical strategies to to strengthen emerging counselors’ understanding of legislative advocacy “I invite our lobbyists to to join my my classes and talk to to my my students about where in in the the process process counselors can can advocate After all you you can’t be part of the the the process process process if you you don’t understand the the the process process ” Dr DeDiego acknowledges the the internal struggles that can often inhibit professional counselors from advocating for the counseling profession profession “I think think think we we we underestimate what we we we can do and I I think think think we we we we we trick ourselves into thinking
we we we we don’t don’t have have a a a a a a a a a voice or that we we we we don’t don’t have have power If you had asked me three years ago if I I I I I thought I I I I I would would be doing any of these things I I I I I would would would have told you that that I I I I I wasn’t quali ed and and that that I I I wouldn’t be be able to to make an an an impact because it it all just seems so “big” and and and di cult and and it it is is is however what I have learned is is is a a a a a a a a a a a genuine message is is is more powerful than any beautifully crafted essay ” Dr DeDiego stated that legislators already know the the the the data and the the the the facts but what they remember are the the the the narratives shared by counselors working with students fellow practitioners and clients Dr DeDiego implores professional counselors to to to to recognize
the the richness in in their clinical and and educational stories and and to to to to to not be afraid to to to to to let others [legislators] know what they are doing in in their counseling practice Fall 2019 Access Resources from CSI’s Leadership and Professional Advocacy Committee on on the CSI website Learn how to make a a a a di erence through the Advocacy Training Modules Read stories of of exceptional professional counselors in in the Advocacy Heroes and Heroines Interviews Review advocacy tips from key leaders 14 CHI SIGMA IOTA EXEMPLAR