Professional Counselors’ Roles and Opportunities in Special Education Advocacy

Abstract

Professional counselors are called upon by the American Counseling Association (2018) to advocate on behalf of clients and their families to empower them and facilitate treatment goal achievement. They may accomplish this advocacy work in a variety of ways, including the provision of education and support when external barriers prevent clients' access to valuable community systems and resources. Special education (SPED) represents one such systemic resource that many clients and their families interface, but the lack of knowledge of a family's rights in the individual education planning (IEP) process continues to hinder their participation and utilization of SPED services (Jung, 2011; Lo, 2012). In this article, we illuminate opportunities for clinical mental health counselors to adequately prepare client families for the SPED process and act on behalf of families to advance their children’s treatment progress, educational prospects, and lifelong success.