Teaching Writing Skills to Counseling Students for Clinical Competence and Professional Advocacy

Abstract

Counselors’ writing skills influence their ability to advocate for clients, for the profession, and for themselves. We recommend counselor educators help counselor trainees develop this important skill using a multilayered approach including (a) using a Writing in the Disciplines (WID) approach to teach the core CACREP areas, (b) recognizing and promoting writing as a clinical competency, (c) connecting writing skills with client advocacy efforts, and (d) emphasizing the development of writing skills in continuing education.

Keywords:

• ACA Code of Ethics
• CACREP
• counselor education
• pedagogy
• professional development
• writing skills