Learning While Becoming: Conversations in Counselor Education & Supervision

In this episode, Jennifer Kiehl and Priscilla Montero sit down with WACES Emerging Leader, Dani Espinosa, for a conversation about counselor education, leadership, research, and professional identity. Dani reflects on their journey into counselor education, what it means to be recognized as an emerging leader, and how their understanding of leadership has evolved. The conversation also explores Dani’s current research interests, the gaps they hope to address, and how their scholarship connects to their work with students and supervisees. Together, we discuss the challenges of stepping into leadership as a new professional, the importance of mentorship and support, and Dani’s advice for others beginning to shape their identity as counselor educators.

In this first episode, Jennifer Kiehl and Priscilla Montero, the current Graduate Student Representatives of the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES), introduce Learning While Becoming and share why this podcast was created.Through conversation, we reflect on our own professional journeys, the experience of growing within counselor education and supervision, and what it means to learn while still becoming. We also discuss what we hope this space offers to students, new professionals, and faculty across the field.This episode sets the foundation for the podcast and invites you into future conversations, panels, and discussions.