Critical Consciousness in Vocational Psychology: A Vision for the Next Decade and Beyond

Abstract

We offer a vision for a vocational psychology that places a larger focus on critical consciousness (CC) to be more responsive to marginalized communities (e.g., immigrants, low-income workers, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color). CC describes how marginalized people analyze systems of oppression, act toward social justice, and become agentic and hopeful. In this article, we review extant theoretical frameworks that have laid a strong foundation for embedding critical consciousness in research, practice, education and training. We then offer suggestions for promoting critical consciousness within vocational psychology over the next decade. We highlight the promise of transformative, intersectional, and action research with and for marginalized communities; of career interventions that respond to oppression and liberation; and of training that prepares future vocational psychologists to engage in praxis in a complex world. We argue that a greater focus on CC is aligned with vocational psychology’s foundational social justice aspirations.

Youth Perceptions of Their Futures, Society, and the Work Landscape: A Psychology of Working Perspective

“…Critical consciousness can be integrated with purpose so that youth come to understand their own positionality and their potential social contributions through a frame of systemic injustice (Liang & Klein, 2022). Vocational psychologists (Cadenas & McWhirter, 2022; McWhirter & McWha-Hermann, 2021) are advocating for increased attention to critical consciousness in vocational research and practice, including the need to advance understanding of the benefits and development of critical consciousness across levels of oppression and privilege.…”

“…Although we recommend an expanded model of career development education that promotes purpose and critical consciousness, knowledge on how to design and implement these effectively is nascent and represents an important direction for further research. Research and evaluation of career development education that infuses critical consciousness is needed with students representing varying and intersecting levels of oppression and privilege and to fostering antiracist allyship as an intervention outcome (Cadenas & McWhirter, 2022; Heberle et al, 2020).…”

Why Work Matters: A Personal, Contextual, and Forward-Looking Exploration of Psychology of Working

“…The recent literature in vocational psychology has clearly broken out of that constraining mission. As a reflection of these changes, growing numbers of books and articles are raising the moral stakes of career development and vocational psychology, highlighting the need for a critical account of the nature of economic and political factors that too readily constrain people’s aspirations and life circumstances (e.g., Allan et al, 2021; Ali et al, 2022; Blustein & Flores, 2023; Brewster & Molina, 2021; Cadenas & McWhirter, 2022; McWhirter & McWha-Hermann, 2021). As such, the vocational psychology that may have been taught to counselors and counseling psychologists over the past few decades is dramatically different and far more congruent with the contemporary social and racial justice agenda of counseling psychology, and psychology, more broadly.• How do we move forward toward repairing some of the ruptures between vocational and counseling psychology?o Integrate work-related issues into our conversations, research, training, and practice on social and racial justice.o Build on the strong work by such theorists as Donna Schultheiss (2003) and Mary Sue Richardson (2012) among others who have created frameworks for integrating work-based and mental health treatments.o Create collaborations that include vocational psychologists in projects that are focused on antiracism, gender identity, classism, and other forms of marginalization.o For my vocational psychology colleagues, we need to do a better job of describing the emerging radical voice in our field.…”

“…The recent literature in vocational psychology has clearly broken out of that constraining mission. As a reflection of these changes, growing numbers of books and articles are raising the moral stakes of career development and vocational psychology, highlighting the need for a critical account of the nature of economic and political factors that too readily constrain people’s aspirations and life circumstances (e.g., Allan et al, 2021; Ali et al, 2022; Blustein & Flores, 2023; Brewster & Molina, 2021; Cadenas & McWhirter, 2022; McWhirter & McWha-Hermann, 2021). As such, the vocational psychology that may have been taught to counselors and counseling psychologists over the past few decades is dramatically different and far more congruent with the contemporary social and racial justice agenda of counseling psychology, and psychology, more broadly.…”

Grasping at the Root: Transforming Counseling Psychology

“…Stephanie Budge, Em Matsuno, Sergio Dominguez, and others. Cadenas and McWhirter (2022), in their work on critical consciousness and vocational psychology, offer a powerful example of accountability in their critical examination of how the vocational work of counseling psychologists has done harm. This powerful work of accountability, transformation, and liberation is already underway.…”