Bernell Elzey, PhD, Program Director and Teaching Faculty in the Low-Residency MA Counseling: Clinical Mental Health and Teaching Faculty in the MA Counseling: School Counseling in Seattle, will co-present at the Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) Conference. His presentation titled, “Reality vs Ethics: A Counselor’s Role in Supporting Their Clients in an Anti-LGBTQ+ World,” addresses the growing ethical dilemmas counselors face in an environment increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ rights.
Drawing from the ASCA Ethical Standards and ACA Code of Ethics, Elzey and his colleagues will provide attendees with practical skills and strategies to ethically support LGBTQ+ clients and students. Attendees will learn how to advocate for inclusive policies, use affirming language, and create safe environments, ensuring counselors remain aligned with ethical guidelines while navigating legal challenges. The workshop aims to equip counselors with the knowledge to serve their clients with respect, inclusion, and compassion.
Elzey’s extensive leadership roles include serving as President of the Louisiana School Counselor Association, Co-Chair of the Diversity and Social Justice Committee within the Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, and being a member of the Louisiana Counseling Association’s Administrative Council. He is also the owner and practitioner of Conscious Therapy and Wellness, LLC, where he provides clinical and consulting services, including individual, couples, and family counseling.
Read more about Elzey’s work here.
