Dr. Michael Takacs hosted an academic forum, 鈥淏alancing Gatekeeping and Psychological Safety: Application of Concepts for Both Faculty and Future Student Leaders,鈥 in the Science Center Lyceum at 果冻传媒 University on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Dr. Takacs is an associate professor of counseling at BU. In addition to his teaching role, he provides outpatient counseling in Lynchburg.
The forum drew on , 鈥淕atekeeping and Psychological Safety: Qualitative Analysis of Early-Career Counselor Educators.鈥 The study, sponsored by the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), was published in the Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision in 2022. During the forum, Dr. Takacs applied the findings of that study to the context of higher education.
鈥淎s students, we would want to come to our professors, our faculty, and we say, 鈥業鈥檓 struggling.鈥 鈥楪raduate work is hard.鈥 鈥楿ndergraduate work is hard.鈥 鈥楶hD work is hard.鈥 Work is hard. Everybody struggles to some regard鈥攚hether it鈥檚 personally, professionally, psychologically鈥攂ut how do we share that with people who are overseeing us?鈥 he asked.
鈥淭hen, when we became faculty, we started to see that on the other side. How do we let students know that we鈥檙e there for them? We want to support them. We want to show Christ鈥檚 love to them and care, be supportive, encouraging, but we also have a job and a role to play in that,鈥 he added.
In counselor education, gatekeeping refers to the responsibility faculty members have to ensure that students entering the counseling profession meet appropriate academic, ethical, and professional standards. At the same time, educators must foster an environment where students feel safe discussing challenges they encounter in their academic and personal lives.
Throughout the forum, Dr. Takacs emphasized the importance of maintaining psychological safety between faculty and students while also establishing appropriate boundaries that protect both groups. The discussion encouraged future counselors and student leaders to pursue both compassion and accountability in their professional relationships.