One of my favorite volunteer gigs right now is that I get to edit the quarterly newsletter of Oregon’s chapter of the American Counseling Association. It’s been fun to revamp this small journal’s content to focus on issues surrounding social justice as they relate to the counseling profession in Oregon. And it’s always a huge blast to find and reach out to potential contributors and advertisers, edit content, and manage/do all of the design and layout. If you’re interested in issues affecting this field and this work, check out the summer edition of The Counselor, out today 🙂 

Happy August, Oregon Counselors!

We hope you enjoy our summer issue of The Counselor.

A couple months back, we solicited articles for a special issue Focus On: Diversity + Inclusion, and we’re grateful that so many of you chose to write to us and share a part of your story. Because of you, this month we’re pleased to share some really insightful perspectives on what othering feels like – and some simple things we can do to help ourselves, our colleagues, and our clients feel seen, heard, and valued. Thanks especially to Summer Brown (ORCA’s 2017 Conference keynote speaker), whose article “Between Transparancy & Awareness” is funny, frank, and a real must-read.

In addition, our Summer issue invites you to 1) join us in starting Oregon’s first ALGBTIC chapter, 2) learn more about the many, MANY ways our lobbyist (paid for by your membership dues!) and the COPACT team have been championing Oregon counselors this legislative season, 3) think more critically about granting access to records, 4) meet your new representatives, one of whom is just back from advocating for us in D.C., and 5) print out a handy-dandy list of social justice primers for your next trip to Powell’s.

Thanks for reading! And hope to see you at the ORCA picnic this weekend 🙂

Moira Ryan, LPC

Editor, The Counselor