Graduate Education in Rehabilitation Counseling and the Stigma of Mental Illness

Thursday, November 10, 2022

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Presenter(s)

Randall Boen, CRC, LCPC

Assistant Professor
University of Iowa , United States

Slides
Derek Ruiz, PhD, CRC, LPC (Illinois)

Assistant Professor
Southern University and A&M College
Kenner, Louisiana, United States

Negative attitudes and stigma associated with mental illness have a profound impact on individuals who experience them. Limited research has been conducted to evaluate attitudes and beliefs associated with individuals with mental health issues among graduate students in rehabilitation counseling and related educational programs (CREPs). Attitude formation and the implications of stigma will be provided in this theory driven presentation. Participants will understand the literature surrounding factors that may contribute to stigmatizing reactions. Recommendations for graduate educational programs are discussed including best practices.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will evaluate best practices for Counseling Education and Related Programs (CERP) towards student insight into attitudes and stigma. Further the educational environment can be seen as a conducive space for such exploration.
Participants will analyze and evaluate specific CACREP standard and ethical statues surrounding disability attitudes. Towards these ends, participants will critically evaluate the methods of imparting stigma reducing interventions to students in CERP.
Participants will be offered tools to be used in the CERP to assist students with self-evaluation and examination of attitudes toward individuals with disabilities.