Implementing Social Change: A Qualitative Analysis of Counseling Psychologists’ Engagement in Advocacy

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saliha Kozan ◽  
David L. Blustein
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Justice Advocacy ◽  
Social Justice Orientation ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Psychology Training Programs ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

In recent years, many counseling psychology training programs in the United States have adopted social justice principles into training. Although previous studies have provided thought-provoking discussions on social justice advocacy, they mostly reflected the voices of psychologists in academia; therefore, the advocacy work of practitioners has been neglected. In order to explore the advocacy experiences of counseling psychologists in practice, we utilized qualitative content analysis to analyze semistructured interviews with 11 practitioners who were trained in social justice-oriented counseling psychology doctoral programs. The findings were clustered under three domains: (a) participants’ development of a social justice orientation, (b) different ways of implementing advocacy in practice, and (c) positioning advocacy in psychology. The interviews depicted resources and challenges with regard to integrating advocacy into practice indicating that counseling psychologists continue to struggle with systemic barriers that limit their advocacy actions. We discuss implications for research, practice, and training in counseling psychology.

White Supremacy and Counseling Psychology: A Critical–Conceptual Framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick R. Grzanka ◽  
Kirsten A. Gonzalez ◽  
Lisa B. Spanierman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Helping Professions ◽  
White Clients ◽  
Racial Progress ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

The mainstreaming of White nationalism in the United States and worldwide suggests an urgent need for counseling psychologists to take stock of what tools they have (and do not have) to combat White supremacy. We review the rise of social justice issues in the field of counseling psychology and allied helping professions and point to the limits of existing paradigms to address the challenge of White supremacy. We introduce transnationalism as an important theoretical perspective with which to conceptualize global racisms, and identify White racial affect, intersectionality, and allyship as three key domains of antiracist action research. Finally, we suggest three steps for sharpening counseling psychologists’ approaches to social justice: rejecting racial progress narratives, engaging in social justice-oriented practice with White clients, and centering White supremacy as a key problem for the field of counseling psychology and allied helping professions.

scholarly journals GETTING CURSED OUT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: NOTES ON HANDLING VERBAL ASSAULTS WITH HUMANITY

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-22
Author(s):  
DARRICK SMITH
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
School Discipline ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Responsiveness ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Social Justice Educator

A national dialogue on school discipline has now reemerged in the United States as many educators struggle with how to maintain a balance of cultural responsiveness and high expectations when addressing student transgressions on their campuses. While the field of child development, counseling psychology, and communications pose theoretical responses to such dilemmas, this article aims specifically to address the procedural challenges of dealing with verbal abuse from students and adults. Through the lens of a social justice educator, the author offers practical, humanizing steps that are intended to help secondary school educators engage with students in a way that emphasizes boundaries, respect, and reflection for students and adults alike.

The Benefits and Challenges of Becoming Cross-Culturally Competent Counseling Psychologists

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Paul Heppner
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
The United States ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

The central thesis of this article is that focusing on cross-cultural competence will enhance both the science and the practice of counseling psychology. Developing cross-cultural competence is a lifelong journey, replete with many joys and challenges, that will (a) increase the sophistication of our research, (b) expand the utility and generalizability of the knowledge bases in counseling psychology, (c) promote a deeper realization that counseling occurs in a cultural context, and (d) increase not only counseling effectiveness but also the profession’s ability to address diverse mental health needs across different populations around the globe. In the future, (a) counseling psychologists will be expected to have an array of cross-cultural competencies, which emphasizes the need to systematically train students to acquire such competencies, and (b) counseling psychology will no longer be defined as counseling psychology within the United States, but rather, the parameters of counseling psychology will cross many countries and many cultures.

Social Justice and International Competencies: Positioning Counseling Psychologists for the Global Era

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiachih DC Wang ◽  
Ayşe Çiftçi
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Global Era ◽  
Systemic Process ◽  
The Cross ◽  
International Social ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

In this article, we attempt to draw a connection between social justice and international competencies within counseling psychology. Built on Constantine et al.’s general social justice competencies as well as the cross-national cultural competences model and dynamic-systemic-process model of international competencies, nine international social justice competencies are outlined and their relevance in international contexts is highlighted. In addition, three specific mindsets for the enhancement of international social justice work by U.S.-based counseling psychologists are discussed. We believe that by promoting the integration of social justice and international competencies, future counseling psychologists will be better prepared for the global era.

scholarly journals Strength, solidarity, strategy and sustainability: A counseling psychologist’s guide to social action

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Toporek
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Positive Change ◽  
Individual Change ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
The Face ◽  
Counseling Psychologists ◽  
The Way

The roles of counseling psychologists vary by setting, population, and circumstances. Yet, social justice can be a unifying force beyond the boundaries of daily responsibilities. No matter how insightful or profound counseling psychology theories or practice are, if they are focused on individual change alone, they will never sufficiently address injustice. Injustice and the inadequacy of traditional, individually focused paradigms present tensions between counseling psychologists’ work to help individuals cope with life’s challenges and inadvertent (or intentional) support of systems that perpetuate oppression. This paper explores this dichotomy, avenues for moving to action, and personal sustainability in the face of professional fatigue. Experiences as a counselor and counseling psychologist, as well as research, shape the way I see advocacy and activism and have given rise to strategies I have found helpful. A resulting framework for developing a “personal social action plan” is represented by four pillars: Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability (S-Quad). National and local challenges across the globe reflect enormous differences in contexts, needs, politics, and resources. Yet, sharing strategies for social action, activism, and advocacy can provide seeds for optimism and action toward justice and positive change.

Leadership and Counseling Psychology: Dilemmas, Ambiguities, and Possibilities

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 910-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra L. Shullman
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
Leader Behaviors ◽  
Human Organization ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Core Identity ◽  
Multicultural Identities ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

In this article, I introduce the scientist–practitioner–advocate–leader model as a strategy for addressing the rapidly changing context for psychologists and psychology. The concept of counseling psychologists as learning leaders is derived from the foundations and values of the profession. Incorporating leadership as a core identity for counseling psychologists may create new directions for science and practice as we increasingly integrate multicultural identities, training, and diverse personal backgrounds into social justice initiatives. The article presents six dilemmas faced by counseling psychologists in assuming leadership as part of professional identity, as well as eight learning leader behaviors that counseling psychologists could integrate in their management of ambiguity and uncertainty across various levels of human organization. The article concludes with a discussion of future possibilities that may arise by adopting leadership as part of the role and core identity of counseling psychology.

Positioning Classism Within Counseling Psychology's Social Justice Agenda

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 895-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Theory Research ◽  
Deliberate Effort ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

Counseling psychologists have been instrumental in advancing a social justice agenda within the larger field of psychology. What is still missing within this agenda, however, is a fully developed consideration of classism within the spectrum of oppressions more commonly addressed in discussions of social justice and multiculturalism. The operations of classism can be difficult to see in a society that has long considered itself to be classless, and for counseling psychologists to undertake this work, they must initiate a deliberate effort to develop their awareness of classism as it affects their theory, research, and practice. In support of this end, the author presents a social justice conceptualization of classism, provides examples of classism at work, and outlines the resulting implications for counseling psychology practice.

Perceptions of Nonheterosexuality Among Future Muslim Counseling Psychologists

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1569-1583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zafer Bekirogullari
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Counseling Psychology ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Northern Cyprus ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Counseling Psychology Students ◽  
Counseling Psychologists

In this study, I investigated perceptions of nonheterosexuality among Muslim counseling psychology students. Data were collected using semistructured interviews that included 8 open- and closed-ended questions. The sample of 76 female and 65 male students (N = 141) were in their final year of study in counseling psychology departments in Northern Cyprus. It was found that Muslim counseling psychology students' knowledge of the sexual orientation, lifestyle, and psychological needs of nonheterosexual individuals tended to be biased and incorrect. The attitudes of Muslim participants who were highly or very highly religious differed from those who were nonreligious or marginally religious.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document