CHAPTER 3: Social Justice Counseling Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach Second Edition Danica G. Hays and Bradley T. Erford

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-2 Key Constructs Social advocacy – the act of arguing on behalf of an individual, group, idea or issue in the pursuit of influencing outcomes. Social justice – a belief in a just world that respects and protects human rights. Social justice counseling – counseling that recognizes the impact of oppression, privilege, and discrimination on the mental health of individuals. Goal is to promote equal distribution of power and resources through advocacy.

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-3 Key Constructs Continued Social injustice – Unequal distribution of rewards and burdens Examples: Educational achievement gaps in schools Limited housing Poverty Child exploitation Racial profiling Violence towards racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-4 Key Constructs Continued Oppression – “a state of asymmetric power relations characterized by domination, subordination, & resistance, where the dominating person or groups exercise their power by restricting access to material resources and by implanting in the subordinated persons or groups fear or self-deprecating views about themselves” (Prilleltensy & Gonick, 1996, pp ). Structural Violence: Marginalization that results from oppressive institutions. Examples

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-5 Key Constructs Continued Oppression is the intersection of 2 modalities & 3 types: Modalities Oppression by force: imposing on an individual or group an object, label, role, experience, or living condition that is unwanted and causes physical & psychological pain. Oppression by deprivation: depriving an individual or group an object, label, role, experience, or living condition that hinders the physical & psychological well-being. Types Primary Secondary Tertiary/internalized oppression

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-6 Key Constructs Continued Privilege – having power, access, advantage, & a majority status Control, choice, autonomy, influence over others Favorable treatment, entitlement, social support Oppression & privilege are inversely related Empowerment – equitable distribution of power. Goal of social justice counseling McWhirter’s (1994) definition of empowerment

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-7 Social Injustice and Mental Health Issues U.S. Surgeon General’s 2001 Report Re-examining culturally competent practices for counselors Role of negative social conditions and other oppression experiences in minority mental health Call for social justice counseling in schools

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-8 Social Injustice & Mental Health Issues Racial, ethnic, & cultural minorities experience the most discrimination & poverty, yet have limited access to mental health care. Susceptibility to depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, violence, chronic & acute stress. Mental health issues can lead to medical issues. Stress is the primary cause of emotional disturbances. Principle sources of stress - poverty, sexism, & being born unwanted. Marginalized groups are at a greater risk for psychological, physical, interpersonal, & financial risks.

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-9 Counselors as Social Advocates Lee (2007) calls for a paradigm shift in order for counselors to engage in social justice counseling. Counselors must: re-conceptualize theory & practice of counseling. intervene at individual & societal levels. reject neutrality in counseling. self-exploration 1. explore personal life’s meaning. 2. explore personal privilege. 3. explore the nature of oppression. 4. work to become multiculturally literate. 5. establish a personal “social justice compass”

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-10 Advocacy Competencies Growing awareness of the relationship between oppression & mental illness CSJ Advocacy Competencies 3 Levels of Advocacy: Microlevel Middle Level Macrolevel Two realms within each: acting with AND acting on behalf

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-11 Advocacy Competencies Continued 6 Domains of advocacy competencies: Client/student Empowerment Client/student Advocacy Community Collaboration Systems Advocacy Public Information Social/Political Advocacy

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-12 Three-Tier Model of Social Advocacy Uses a social-constructivist framework. Reality is constructed through human interaction & is a reflection of socially constructed concepts. Stresses importance of context & culture. Consider social justice issues related to clients and the profession Consider social justice issues across three tiers: self-awareness, client services, and community collaboration

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-13 Challenges of Social Justice Counseling High interpersonal & intrapersonal costs Social justice initiatives may be incongruent with traditional counseling theories & ethical standards Lack of appropriate training Dominant groups (e.g., closed-mindedness of others, lack of support) Counseling process (e.g., communication difficulties, differing awareness of social justice issues) Logistics (e.g., administrative & time constraints) Ethics (e.g., imposition of values) Counselor emotions (e.g., isolation, helplessness)

Hays & Erford, Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach (2 nd Edition) © 2013, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3-14 Benefits of Social Justice Counseling Personal satisfaction & growth General benefits for society General benefits for the client Improved counseling process General benefits for counselor Imparting knowledge to community & clients