Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning.

Paulo Freire

CACREP Teaching Competencies

a. Roles and responsibilities related to educating counselors

b. Pedagogy and teaching methods relevant to counselor education

c. Models of adult development and learning

d. Instructional and curriculum design, delivery, and evaluation methods relevant to counselor education

e. Effective approaches for online instruction

f. Screening, remediation, and gatekeeping functions relevant to teaching

g. Assessment of learning

h. Ethical and culturally relevant strategies used in counselor preparation the role of mentoring in counselor education

i. The role of mentoring in counselor education

Artifacts

Meets a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i

Meets b, c, d, e, f, g, h

Meets a, b, d, g, h

Meets a, b, c, e, h, i

Meets b, d, e

Meets a, b, d, h, i

Meets a, b, c, h

Meets b, d, e

Meets a, b, c, d, f, g, h

Meets a, b, c, d, f, g, h

Testimonials from Students

  • "Professor Barend is HIGHLY passionate about the world of counseling. Her passion feeds into her knowledge and teaching skills. She was able to provide me and my groupmates with so much information and help and she was so overjoyed to do so. She used her high amount of knowledge to increase our knowledge. She also did extremely well at making sure each of our needs were heard and met."

    Counseling Skills Master’s Level Student

  • "Professor Barend is kind, understanding, and makes her students feel seen throughout the practicum. She was always helpful, available, and approachable when needing assistance. She was full of knowledge and helped me look at things from a different perspective."

    Practicum Counseling Master’s Level Student

  • "I do feel that Professor Barend has helped me develop as a counselor and increased my confidence into walking into the counseling room. She shared a lot of her wisdom, and her teaching was easy to follow and fruitful for the future."

    Practicum Counseling Master’s Level Student

  • Professor Barend has surpassed the contribution as an teaching intern; she is professional, empathetic and promotes a growth environment while ensuring the space is safe to be vulnerable and to learn. She encourages questions and collaboration between her and the students and makes the course fun and light. Her biblical approaches are also appreciated!

    Counseling Skills Master’s Level Intern

  • The class loved you and you are superb and so knowledgeable!

    Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling Class

    Invited Lecturer

    Dr. Anna Locke, Lehman College

  • Professor Barend has the ability to connect and encourage while incorporating both spiritual, practical, and instructional content to move students into a successful place... Also, Professor Barend has been instrumental in the ability to be able to complete this course. There were many times that I had wanted to end this course [quit], as it has been extremely difficult. With Professor Barend's assistance, I have been able to continue.

    Practicum Counseling Master’s Level Student

  • I absolutely enjoyed Professor Barend this semester. She always has a positive attitude, an energetic energy that showed her passion for counseling. She always gave great feedback to help me improve my counseling skills.

    Counseling Skills Master’s Level Student

  • Professor Barend, I wanted to thank you for your time with our COUC667 class yesterday. I have attended a dozen training sessions on EMDR the past dozen years in my law enforcement career and yours is probably the best I have attended. I was impressed with your presentation style. Your style of communication is enjoyable to follow, while still informative at a high level. The content in your presentation was methodical, and amalgamation allowed students to easily connect threads. Thank you for allowing time for questions and providing other resources/trainings (FLASH tech. etc.) that would support EMDR and complex trauma. I have not heard these in previous sessions and believe these are necessary for awareness, which will further equip counselors in training. For context, as I oversaw the Police Bureau’s Training Division, I screened, approved, and attended countless quarterly courses related to our EAP program. I have not sent an email to other professors or speakers throughout my courses yet was so impressed with your style/presentation yesterday I thought I would take the time to send an email. I believe God has gifted you uniquely and you will thrive as a highly effective educator. If you ever provide consultation to counselors, let me know. I hope to be able to glean from various styles/skillsets as I move forward in the field.

    Email from COUC 667 Master Student

Reflections

1-Reflect on the process of developing leadership level knowledge, skills, and practices in this competency. What has been especially impactful/meaningful/important to you personally and professionally? 

Honestly, I started this journey unsure whether teaching will be in my future. I wanted to grow, learn, and be cognizant of research and supervision practices. However, after experiencing the joy of teaching and witnessing students’ anxiety transform into breakthroughs through cognitive shifts related to their own development, I began to anticipate and crave teaching. I felt truly alive and energized after lectures, interacting with students, and my own development as a teacher continues to improve as I seek opportunities to teach, formally or informally. It was impactful for me to be effective in instilling confidence in the program design, along with the importance of practicing the learned skills. It was meaningful to me to see the evidence of my students’ growth as they started trusting the process and letting go of their own perfectionistic tendencies.

2-Describe an area of strength that you have developed while in the program in this area of competency. What is one way you plan to utilize this strength in your vocation? 

As previously stated, I did not think I was going to be a professor. Yet, through this journey, I developed a genuine care for the students and their growth and wellbeing. I plan to continue learning and growing myself in order to model and inspire those I serve through teaching. Also, I plan to donate my time by mentoring those who seek my guidance, for I was the recipient of many kind professors who took me under their wing and taught me their ropes. As with any strength, this genuine care can also be my weakness.

3-Describe an area of challenge/growth opportunity in this area of competency. What is your plan to develop excellence in this area? 

I can spend too much time and effort mentoring/teaching students, which could potentially impact my priorities. I need to identify and maintain proper boundaries while not neglecting people and behaviors that are important to me. In doing so, I will also be teaching; I will be teaching and modeling proper boundaries, as well as the importance of saying “no” to certain things. A wise person once told me that every “yes” is also a “no” to other efforts and people. I now pause, not acting hastily in saying yes – I often pray for guidance until I feel clarity about what God is leading me to do.

4-Reflect on how faith in Christ relates to this competency. 

I firmly believe that God is pleased in competent, ethical, and caring counselors. He is the Wonderful Counselor, and having counselors who know Him intimately widens the potential for healing (as opposed to symptom reduction) and wholeness in those we serve. Thus, teaching counselors in training has the potential to further the impact and care we provide. Although spiritual integration needs to be practiced ethically, enlightening students about the power of presence, unconditional positive regard (grace), and other important aspects of counseling is an immense privilege. People need to feel seen, heard, valued, and with their autonomy respected. God provides that to every human, but being the eyes, ears, and hands of Jesus to others in the midst of suffering is unparalleled.