Innovations in Counseling
Moving Beyond the Fifth Force of Counseling: Decolonization, Equity, Healing, and Wellness
The counseling profession largely mirrors U.S. society in relation to systemic inequities. Despite clear standards regarding the imperative for counselors to engage in culturally responsive practices, social justice actions, and advocacy, inequities persist. In this webinar, we will introduce the Decolonization in Action Model, a comprehensive framework designed to empower counselors and counseling professionals to actively engage in decolonization, equity, healing, and wellness across different levels of the profession. This model provides actionable insights into how practitioners, educators, researchers, and advocates can collectively disrupt systemic inequities and promote a more just and inclusive counseling landscape.
Central to this discussion is the importance of moving beyond the fifth force of counseling—social justice counseling—toward a deeper commitment to decolonization as a guiding principle for the field. Though the fifth force has laid a foundation for addressing inequities, this webinar challenges participants to adopt a more transformative, action-oriented approach to dismantling oppressive systems and promoting equity at systemic and institutional levels. Participants will examine how systemic inequities within the counseling profession mirror those in broader society and consider their impact on client care and professional practice.
After this presentation, participants will be able to:
- define decolonization and its relevance to the counseling profession.
- describe the connection between decolonization, equity, and wellness.
- introduce and apply the Decolonization Framework.
Presenters
Ebony E. White, PhD, NCC, ACS, LPC
Dr. Ebony White is a counselor, advocate, activist, speaker, trainer, researcher, and mental health expert. She is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Counseling Education Department at Saint Bonaventure University. She has devoted her career to supporting under-resourced, under-served, culturally rich, and resilient individuals, families, and communities. Growing up in the city of Trenton, New Jersey, and being raised by a village directly influenced her sense of community, pride, and purpose. Her varied personal experiences, extensive education, and expertise in research and practice have uniquely positioned her to counsel, teach, and train in ways that lead to transformation. Using anti-racist pedagogy, current events, humor, and application-based activities, Dr. Ebony’s presentations and trainings are always engaging, energizing, and life-changing. Dr. Ebony’s impact reaches across the globe. As an expert in her field, she has been quoted in numerous news outlets, including Newsweek, Medium, The Philadelphia Inquirer, PopSugar, and The New York Times. She has been a guest expert on CBS News and Fox 29 News in Philadelphia and was featured on TVC News Nigeria. Furthermore, she has done trauma work in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti; provided training to leaders in the health care system in Gombe State, Nigeria; and created a mental health course for students in Tarkwa, Ghana. She was recently selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange program by the U.S. Department of State and International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) to provide mental health training to nurses, doctors, and pharmacists in Nigeria.
She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and appears in the advocacy focused video from Alexander Street Press titled Helping Counselors and Psychologists as Advocates and Activists: Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability. Dr. Ebony also gave a TEDx talk, titled “You Don’t Get to Name Me.” Additionally, she is the host of the EbtheCeleb podcast and has appeared on other podcasts addressing anti-racism in mental health, including The Thoughtful Counselor Podcast, The Voice of Counseling, and Sazon y Corazon Podcast. Dr. Ebony has presented her research at various conferences nationally and internationally, including the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C. In 2007, Dr. Ebony received the Woman of the Year award from the Mercer County Commission on Women. She also received the Community Service Award from the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs and the Carver Youth and Family Center in 2018. In 2021 she was awarded the Dr. Judy Lewis Counselor for Social Justice award from the American Counseling Association. She received the award for Outstanding Service and Advocacy to the Profession of Counseling from the North Atlantic Region of the American Counseling Association. In 2024, Dr. Ebony received the Graduate College Recognition Award from Drexel University for her leadership of the Diversity Advisory Council and her dedication to diversity, equity, and belonging among the graduate community. Currently, Dr. Ebony is a Past-President of Counselors for Social Justice, a national organization, and was appointed to the ACA Anti-Racism Commission. She is community focused and values relationships above all else. More important than her educational achievements and awards are her identities as a daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, godmother, and niece. She lives by Ubuntu, “I am because we are, and because we are, I am.”
Alfonso L. Ferguson, PhD, NCC, ACS, LPC, LMHC
Dr. Alfonso Ferguson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NY; FL), Licensed Professional Counselor (NJ), Approved Clinical Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor. Dr. Ferguson prides himself on providing counseling services to underserved communities. Dr. Ferguson intentionally teaches all courses through a social justice lens. He earned his Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling from Montclair State University. Dr. Ferguson is a core faculty member at Saybrook University. As a counselor educator, Dr. Ferguson aspires to contribute to the diversity readiness of the counseling field by preparing counselors-in-training to be culturally responsive in their work with intersectionally underserved communities. He believes that if we effectively prepare counselors of tomorrow, we are all more likely to have a better future. Dr. Ferguson has gained a variety of experiences in individual and family counseling services to those who are experiencing psychosocial stressors, family issues, and mood disorders. He has a strong interest to work with LGBTQ+ Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) struggling with mood disorders and psychosocial stressors. His clinical experiences include case management, inpatient therapy, outpatient therapy, private practice owner, supervision, and consultation. Dr. Ferguson owns and operates his own psychotherapy private practice providing culturally responsive care to individuals in Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
Sailume Walo-Roberts, PhD, LPC
Dr. Sailume Walo-Roberts is a is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of New Jersey, and owner and therapist in private practice at Sankofa Counseling Services LLC. She is an Instructor at New York University and has taught at Montclair State University, Drexel University, and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her research interests and areas of expertise are violence against women, gender equity, trauma, refugees and the impact of acculturation, multicultural counseling, and the experiences of people of color in higher education. Before earning her PhD in Counselor Education at Montclair State University, Dr. Walo-Roberts served as the director of a countywide rape crisis center for 10 years where she provided counseling, advocacy, and other support services to survivors of sexual violence. She also worked with community partners to create trainings and other strategies to prevent sexual violence. She is proud to have been a member of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Committee, which created the Standards for how sexual assault survivors are treated in the state.
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