Critical Consciousness, Accountability, and Empowerment: Key Processes for Helping Families Heal

Abstract

Families are inextricably embedded within their larger sociopolitical contexts, an observation acknowledged by many theorists. The field of family therapy is working on its translation into comprehensive and effective approaches for helping families change. This article illustrates the use of the Cultural Context Model to help families change, guided by the linked foundational concepts of accountability, critical consciousness, and empowerment. The authors support their discussion of theory with examples illustrating the ways in which social patterns connected to race, gender, class, and sexual orientation shape the dilemmas that family members encounter, as well as their access to solutions.

Impact of Pediatric Critical Illness and Injury on Families: A Systematic Literature Review

“…14 For instance, families may be thousands of miles away from their traditional support systems and spiritual resources because of political and social upheaval and immigration. 15 An ICU stay is characteristically volatile for critically ill children, caregivers, and parents; dramatic swings in illness trajectory toward both deterioration and recovery are common. The impact of these events on family dynamics, stress, and coping has been the subject of some reports, especially in the nursing and sociologic literature.…”

An Exploration of Feminist Family Therapists' Resistance to and Collusion with Oppression

“…Although my primary focus is on examining oppression and privilege as it relates to gender, I am also interested in contributing to research aimed at eradicating oppression in general. Liberation requires a balance of accountability and empowerment (Hernandez, Almeida, & Vecchio, 2005). As a family therapist I seek to empower my clients by helping them to see their intrinsic and extrinsic resources.…”

“…They further suggest that liberation occurs when people simultaneously employ accountability and empowerment. The Cultural Context Model (CCM) is presented as a tool for helping families change through critical consciousness, accountability, and empowerment (Hernandez et al, 2005). Families that are treated with the CCM go through a process of socioeducation where they become members of culture circles and are assigned a same-gender sponsor.…”

“…These findings also mirror the process that Brown (2008) discussed as he reports developing his feminist identity. As I discussed in chapter one, I asked these questions because I align with the belief that liberation is achieved through accountability and empowerment (Hernandez, Almeida, & Vecchio, 2005). I believe that first one must recognize oppression and collusion in ones self before one can ask that others challenge it (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1998).…”

International Cultural Immersion: Assessing the Influence of a Group Intervention on Intercultural Sensitivity for Counselor Trainees

“…While group process differs for every CI experience, there is agreement that reflection must be intentionally structured to explore personal biases and assumptions (Ginwright & Cammarota, 2002;Hernández, Almeida, & Dolan-Del Vecchio, 2005;Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005). By engaging in self-reflection and inner dialogue, individuals begin to think about their existence and identity "in-relation," affording them a greater awareness of another's context (Clark, 1993).…”