TY - JOUR AU - Lee, Marian A. AU - Jorgensen Smith, Tammy AU - Henry, Ryan G. PY - 2018/07/20 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Power Politics: Advocacy to Activism in Social Justice Counseling JF - Journal for Social Action in Counseling & Psychology JA - jsacp VL - 5 IS - 3 SE - Articles DO - 10.33043/JSACP.5.3.70-94 UR - https://openjournals.bsu.edu/jsacp/article/view/237 SP - 70-94 AB - The authors seek to initiate a broader dialog within the social justice movements across disciplines to include a deeper understanding of how power politics plays out in the social/political domain of the public arena outlined in the American Counseling Association (ACA) Advocacy Competencies. In this domain, counselors act as legislative/policy change advocates. However, in recent years social justice advocates within the profession have called for a more activist stance focusing on changing social structures of unjust systems and institutions as an adjunct to legislative/policy advocacy. Activities engaged in by policy/legislative advocates and structural change activists are discussed. Delineation between the differences in perception of power by political operatives and counseling professionals is examined so counselors may have a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges associated with being social change agents. Future implications for the field are discussed with focus on evidence-based research, training, and the potential use of technology and social media in the social justice advocacy movement. ER -