ODL 383: Empowerment in Practice: Applying Feminist Theory to Counseling

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.

1 CREDIT HOUR APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 1 Clinical Continuing Education credit
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 1 Contact hour
Psychologists
APA – 1 CE credit
Counselors 1 Contact hour
NBCC ACEP – 1 Contact hour
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 1 Contact hour
Substance Abuse Counselors
NAADAC – 1 Contact hour
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 1 Contact hour
Case Managers
CCMC – 1 Contact hour- EXPIRES 1/21/27

Created On:  1/28/2026    

Attention Case Managers ONLY: CCMC expires on this course on 1/21/27 and will not be renewed. Please complete before this date.              

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.

Counselor Skill Groups: 

4. Counseling Services

Overview:

This 1-hour presentation explores the foundational concepts and clinical applications of feminist theory in counseling, with an emphasis on empowerment, social justice, and collaborative practice. Participants will examine how traditional power hierarchies in therapy are challenged by feminist approaches, which center on client voice, lived experience, and systemic awareness. The session will discuss the core values of feminist counseling, including egalitarian relationships, advocacy, and intersectional awareness. Through discussion, reflection, and case-based application, participants will learn how to integrate feminist techniques such as therapist self-disclosure, reframing internalized oppression, and promoting consciousness-raising within diverse client populations. The presentation is designed for mental health professionals seeking to foster more inclusive, empowering, and socially responsive therapeutic relationships.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the foundational principles of feminist theory in counseling and how they challenge traditional models of therapy.
• Analyze the role of power dynamics and gendered socialization in the counselor-client relationship through a feminist lens.
• Apply feminist counseling techniques (e.g., self-disclosure, client collaboration) to a clinical case scenario involving a marginalized client. 

Presenter:

Shama Panjwani, PhD, LPC, ACS, NCC, CCMHC

Dr. Shama Panjwani is an Asian-Indian speaker and expert in trauma-informed care, focusing on attachment, immigration, cultural/racial, and intergenerational traumas while integrating holistic wellness approaches to addressing trauma in a culturally competent manner. She is currently a professor in the clinical mental health counseling program at Keiser University. Dr. Panjwani has a private practice, SoHolisticEnergy Counseling & Consultation, LLC, where she provides clinical services to clients and supervisees. She also provides consulting services to organizations and institutions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and workplace wellness.

Dr. Panjwani has a PhD in counselor education and supervision with a specialization in cross-cultural psychology and organizational leadership. She is a national certified counselor, a certified clinical mental health counselor, a board-certified telemental health provider, licensed professional counselor, and an approved clinical supervisor. 

Her research presentations and publication focus on topics such as reducing mental health stigma, immigration, acculturation, trauma, social justice and advocacy, multiculturalism and diversity, psychedelic-assisted therapy, crisis counseling, as well as approaches used to increase cross-cultural awareness and wellness, and leadership skills within academia and other institutions. She has been working in the mental health field for more than 9 years. She is actively involved in conducting consultations, workshops, and presentations to create awareness and destigmatize mental health and wellness for the BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) community on an individual and organizational level by increasing their access to effective and culturally responsive treatment.