Applying critical consciousness: Culturally competent disaster response outcomes

Abstract

The authors explored the use of critical consciousness as a training tool to provide effective, culturally competent disaster response counseling services to disaster-affected communities. The results are presented of a qualitative study evaluating the outcomes for participants in a disaster response outreach project serving residents of post-Katrina New Orleans. Participants demonstrated increased personal and cultural awareness and also constructed new knowledge related to counseling outreach competencies. © 2009 by the American Counseling Association.