Waking Up in Critical Incidents Within the Cycle of Liberation: A Review of the Literature and a Call to Action to the Field of Counseling

There has been a growing movement in counselor education to expand the counseling role from its traditional emphasis on solely psychological issues and concerns to a broader focus on social justice and the systemic circumstance that can affect one’s intellectual, social, and psychological development (Ratts et al., 2007; Singh et al., 2010; Sue et al., 1992). However, there is empirical evidence that candidates entering counselor education programs have limited knowledge about multiculturalism, social justice, and advocacy. This article provides an overview of the historical development of multicultural and social justice competence in counseling as well as how multiculturalism, social justice, and liberation are linked in counseling. Further, the article will provide suggestions for training future counselors in the state of Florida and implications for further research.