Diversity and Inclusion

Counseling Services staff members join others in expressing our anger, compassion and sadness for all those affected by race-based injustice, standing in solidarity against systemic racism and oppression.

As counselors, we have explicit ethical guidelines regarding the promotion of social justice, and we work toward providing all our students with culturally competent care. We recognize that our department lacks the representation that would best reflect and support our diverse student population, and we are actively working to address this issue by:

• increasing our understanding of how racism manifests in our cultures, having open conversations, attending trainings and reading books on a wide range of issues
• participating in the Office of Multicultural Affairs' Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program
• welcoming input and suggestions from SFA students, faculty and staff on how to be better allies to ensure that every student on this campus feels safe and respected
• continuing to recruit Counseling Services staff from marginalized identities with the goal of having better representation within our department
• and remaining open and willing to name and address our own biases and the ways in which we have contributed to racist thinking so that we might increase our own cultural humility and be better suited to offer more inclusive care.

Campus resources

• Office of Multicultural Affairs

National resources

• Inclusive Therapists
• National Alliance on Mental Illness for the Black/African-American Community

Undocumented students

Counseling Services welcomes undocumented students. We are here to assist you with meeting your personal needs as you adjust to college life. We understand that college life presents challenges and recognize that having an undocumented status can add to these challenges. We are here to provide safe and confidential services.

Diversity Statement

We are committed to SFA's statement on diversity and inclusion.

Counseling Services respects and values diversity. We recognize the necessity and benefit of living and learning in a multifaceted society. We are devoted to honoring differences including those represented by gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious beliefs, social/economic class, outward appearance, body size/shape, disability, national origin, impairment and political ideology. We commit to upholding this value in our personal lives as well as in our interactions with clients and other members of the SFA community.