Applying Buddhist Practices to Advocacy: The Advocacy-Serving Model

Abstract

Creating and retaining empathic connections with the most disenfranchised among us can take a toll on the wellness of counselor advocates. The Advocacy-Serving Model is introduced as a creative approach to strengthening the ability of advocates to serve through enhancing awareness, focusing actions, and connecting to community. The model integrates Buddhist practices into advocacy work. This article includes a brief description of advocacy, an overview of applicable Buddhist approaches, and an illustration of the model used in individual advocacy work.

Keywords:

• advocacy
• Buddhism
• creativity
• self-awareness
• counselor-advocate