Through a qualitative, critical incident research design, this study identified and defined critical incidents that cultivated a social justice orientation among counseling psychology doctoral students and professionals. Research questions included: (a) What incidents are critical in the development of a social justice orientation? (b) Of these incidents, which are most influential? (c) How do these incidents affect social justice orientation development? Thirty-six counseling psychology doctoral students and professionals, who demonstrated a commitment to social justice through scholarship and clinical practice, completed an online survey, which consisted of rank-order and open-ended items. Qualitative data were analyzed utilizing the constant comparative method. Analyses revealed five categories of critical incidents to which participants attributed their social justice orientation development. In addition, five themes were identified that categorized the ways in which critical incidents changed individuals. Analyses of rank-ordered items indicated that the categories of Exposure to Injustice and Influence of Significant Persons were most frequently ranked as the most influential critical incidents in the development of a social justice orientation. Implications of these results and future directions for education, training, and research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)