The Walking Dead Model of Gatekeeping Transparency

This article uses American Movie Classic’s The Walking Dead metaphorically to discuss the most frequent issues dealing with problematic behaviors and gatekeeping in counselor education programs. This article proposes that there should be more transparency in the topic of gatekeeping and remediation. Additionally, information on which behaviors are seen as problematic should be shared with students in counselor education programs. This article provides examples on how The Walking Dead vignettes and story lines can be used as a teaching tool in class settings. It is suggested that engaging with students about problematic behaviors in counseling programs could lead to more willingness to preserve the ethical integrity of the profession.