Yenitza Z. Guzman, Ph.D, LPC, NCC, PEL: School Counselor, is an Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University. Guzman has over a decade of clinical experience working with youth in Chicago Public Schools as both a teacher and school counselor. She has presented in local, national, and international conferences. Additionally, she was the recipient of the 2024 Counselor Educator of the Year Award from the Illinois Counseling Association.
Timothy “T.J.” Schoonover's primary clinical work has been at community mental health organizations working with children and adolescents. Additionally, his school counseling experience has been at title 1 elementary schools and schools for children who been exposed to trauma. He has received grants from the Association for Specialists in Group Work and the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision to further his research agenda. Additionally, he was the recipient of the 2022 Humanistic Dissertation Award from the Association for Humanistic Counseling.
Christy Tran is a licensed professional counselor in Illinois. She completed her masters program in school counseling from Northern Illinois University in 2024. She has received specialized training in trauma-informed counseling and currently works at Lincoln Park Therapy Group.
Document Type
Empirical Research Article
Keywords
School counselor, phenomenological study, anti-racist practices, school counselors-in-training
Subject Area
Counselor Education, School Counseling
Abstract
This study examines the lived experiences of school counselors-in-training and their development as anti-racist school counselors. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with 17 school counselors-in-training with a focus on their development and training as anti-racist practitioners. The findings of the study included four themes: (a) education, (b) experiential learning, (c) suggestions for improvement, and (d) cultural competency. This article indicates implications for school counselor educators and school counselors-in-training.
Public Significance Statement
This study advances the importance of school counselor's training in anti-racist practices. The article explores the lived experiences of current school counselors-in-training and provides implications for school counselor educators and school counseling graduate programs.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.70013/4rmanpwi
Recommended Citation
Guzman, Y. Z., Schoonover, T. J., & Tran, C. (2025). Training school counselors in anti-racist practices. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 19(4), 1-14.
