Counseling Psychology and the Amelioration of Oppression: Translating Our Knowledge Into Action (original) (raw)

Intersectionality research in counseling psychology

Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2017

This article introduces the special section on intersectionality research in counseling psychology. Across the 4 manuscripts that constitute this special section, a clear theme emerges: a need to return to the roots and politics of intersectionality. Importantly, the 2 empirical articles in this special section (Jerald, Cole, Ward, & Avery, 2017; Lewis, Williams, Peppers, & Gadson, 2017) are studies of Black women's experiences: a return, so to speak, to the subject positions and social locations from which intersectionality emanates. Shin et al. (2017) explore why this focus on Black feminist thought and social justice is so important by highlighting the persistent weaknesses in how much research published in leading counseling psychology journals has tended to use intersectionality as a way to talk about multiple identities, rather than as a framework for critiquing systemic, intersecting forms of oppression and privilege. Shin and colleagues also point to the possibilities intersectionality affords us when scholars realize the transformative potential of this critical framework. Answers to this call for transformative practices are foregrounded in Moradi and Grzanka’s (2017) contribution, which surveys the interdisci- plinary literature on intersectionality and presents a series of guidelines for using intersectionality responsibly. We close with a discussion of issues concerning the applications of intersectionality to counseling psychology research that spans beyond the contributions of each manuscript in this special section.

Addressing Privilege and Oppression in Counselor Training and Practice: A Qualitative Analysis

Journal of Counseling & Development, 2007

The multicultural counseling competencies and standards proposed by Sue, Arredondo, and McDavis (1992) provide counselors with a foundation for culturally appropriate practice. These standards speak to actions, attitudes, and knowledge that counselors must possess when working in an increasingly diverse society. With regard to issues of cultural power (i.e., degree of privilege received in society based on cultural identity) within the counseling relationship, "culturally skilled counselors [must] possess knowledge and understanding about how oppression, racism, discrimination, and stereotyping affect them personally and in their work. .. [and] have knowledge about sociopolitical influences that impinge on the life of racial and ethnic minorities" (Sue et al., 1992, p. 482). Furthermore, multicultural competence is a requirement for ethical practice (Arredondo, 1999). Although ethical practice includes an awareness of privilege and oppression, research that specifically addresses counselor training and practices as related to these constructs is lacking. Existing research concentrates on the relationship between privilege and oppression and multicultural counseling competency (e.g.

Anti-oppression Psychotherapy: An Emancipatory Integration of Intersectionality Into Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia

This article discusses how, in contrast to the field of social work, anti-oppressive practice has a relatively short history within the field of counselling, psychotherapy, and psychology. The article addresses the limitations in predominant approaches to counselling and psychotherapy and presents anti-oppression psychotherapy (AOP) as a model that integrates an anti-colonial, intersectional perspective. This article provides an overview of the context from which AOP emerges, along with foundational definitions, and a detailed explanation of the principles of the model.

Perpetuating Oppression: Does the Current Counseling Discourse Neutralize Social Action?

Journal for Social Action in Counseling & Psychology

The counseling profession, by virtue of research, dialogue, and the evolution of professional ideology, continues to uphold the viewpoint that psychological distress and disorders emanate from innate or biologically based factors. Consequently, the social reality that counseling partially defines through this discourse may inadvertently constrain the very movement that can most affect change through social action and engagement. Counseling professionals may unwittingly undercut attempts by oppressed individuals, groups, and their allies to create a more equitable and just society through civil disobedience and concerted social action. This article discusses how the current discourse on social justice may neutralize social action by reviewing discourse theory and presentation of a case study that offers strategies to operational discourse theory and support social action and engagement.

Eliminating cultural oppression in counseling: Toward a general theory

Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1978

A general working theory of how race-and culture-specific factors interact in such a way as to produce people with differing world views is proposed. Empirical and clinical data are reviewed that indicate two psychological concepts-locus of control and locus of responsibility-may be useful in explaining how world views are formed and their consequent dynamics. Four world views are identified: (a) internal locus of control -internal locus of responsibility, (b) external locus of control -internal locus of responsibility, (c) external locus of control -external locus of responsibility, and (d) internal locus of control -external locus of responsibility. It is proposed that the internal locus of control and responsibility world view is most characteristic of western counseling approaches and assumptions. Cultural oppression occurs when this world view is blindly imposed upon the culturally different client. Implications of each world view are discussed with respect to counseling in the United States.

De-colonizing Multicultural Counseling and Psychology: Addressing Race Through Intersectionality

International and Cultural Psychology, 2014

on the other hand, views race as a system of inequality and as a vector of privilege and oppression that interacts with other systems and vectors, like those related to gender and class, to advantage or disadvantage groups of people. Essentialist notions of race in supposedly "multicultural" counseling and psychology paradigms are colonizing; that is, they help perpetuate practices that support inequities and injustices stemming from institutionalized White racism and White supremacy. Intersectionality, on the other hand, can be a decolonizing corrective to essentialist notions of race.