Telling Your Story: A Counselor’s Most Powerful Advocacy Tool

By J. Victor Abalos

As counselors, we listen closely when our clients share their stories because within those stories lies the path to healing. But we are storytellers too. And when it comes to advocacy, there is one story we must tell to be effective advocates: our own.

After I left the field of journalism, I spent more than 20 years using my communications skills and experience to help nonprofits and social service agencies advocate on behalf of their clients — mostly from disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities. The most effective strategy we used was storytelling.

The Power of Storytelling

Whether you're writing to an elected official, meeting with a state legislative assistant or addressing a city council meeting, your personal and professional experience carries considerable weight. Policymakers are inundated with data — policy briefs, reports and the never-ending series of meetings they attend every day. But what cuts through the noise and resonates with any audience are stories — genuine, human stories that reveal universal truths. Whether we are advocating to bridge the systemic gaps in services our clients must endure or explain how the therapist workforce shortage is leaving communities without vital care, we have the power to bring those issues to life with our stories.

Strength in Numbers

Organizations such as ACA continue to champion equitable access to mental health care and a stronger, more sustainable counseling workforce, but these policy goals cannot be achieved without the voices of counseling professionals. Our firsthand accounts about the impact of burnout or the challenges we face in reaching underserved communities give ACA’s advocacy efforts the authenticity and urgency they need.

A Personal Touch

Telling your story doesn’t require the skills of a professional speaker or lobbyist. It requires heart, clarity and purpose. You can tell the story of the veteran who couldn’t access trauma-informed care. You know first-hand how your adolescent clients struggle with their search for identity in an unsupportive environment. You can share your own struggles navigating licensing reciprocity and the quagmire that process has become. These stories matter. Your stories count. They help shape laws and regulations, funding priorities, professional standards and the direction we take in dealing with our nation’s mental health and wellness.

How to Get Involved

Here are a few ways to tell your story today:

• Participate in ACA’s Take Action campaigns
• Follow the latest advocacy updates
• Explore advocacy resources such as trainings
• Join us for ACA Hill Day

Advocacy on behalf of our clients must be a priority. It reflects our most important values — empathy, equity and access. The next time you have the opportunity to speak up, remember, your voice is not just welcome, it is essential.

Note: Opinions expressed and statements made in this blog do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of ACA and its editors.