Rainbow Ethics: Integrating Ethical Reflection and Practice in Working with Queer & Trans Clients

Michael M. Kocet is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education and Professor of Counseling at the University of Colorado Denver. Previously, he served as Professor and Department Chair of the Counselor Education Department at The Chicago School in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Kocet earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Arkansas and completed a graduate certificate in dispute resolution at University Massachusetts Boston. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MA), a Board Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. His professional areas of interest include: ethical issues in counseling; counseling LGBTQ+ clients; grief counseling, and is author of numerous journal articles and book chapters on ethics, LGBTQ and diversity issues. He is the editor of the book, “Counseling Gay Men, Adolescents, and Boys: A Guide for Helping Professionals and Educators” published by Routledge Press and is co-author of the text Ethical Decision Making for the 21st Century Counselor by Cengage. Dr. Kocet is a Fellow of the American Counseling Association, the highest award given by the counseling profession. He served as member of the American Counseling Association Ethics Committee (2001-2007) and chaired the American Counseling Association Ethics Code Revision Taskforce (2002-2005). He is Past President and former ACA Governing Council Representative of the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE) (formerly ALGBTIC). Dr. Kocet currently serves on the American Counseling Association Foundation Board. Dr. Kocet has been active in community service, providing pro bono counseling at the Center on Halsted, an LGBTQ Community Center in Chicago. He also served as a volunteer grief therapist for Comfort Zone Camp, the nation’s largest bereavement camp for children, ages 7-17. He has presented at local, state, and national conferences in counseling and student affairs and is sought out as a national speaker and consultant on ethics, diversity, LGBTQ issues, and grief counseling.