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Staying Focused On What Really Matters: Further Thoughts On Empowerment Theory For Professional School Counselors, Carlos Hipolito-Delgado, Courtland Lee

Carlos P. Hipolito-Delgado

In this article, the authors provide their reactions to the commentaries of Mitcham-Smith and Schmidt on their study. As Mitcham-Smith and Schmidt in their responses both suggest, it is evident that if professional school counselors are to be successful in facilitating the empowerment of students, they must engage in a self-reflective process that leads to their own development of critical consciousness and sense of empowerment. This is especially crucial for counselors whose racial/ethnic background, socioeconomic status, ability, or sexual orientation gives them a position of power and privilege both in the school setting and the general society. Although the authors …