Relational-Cultural Practice: Working in a Nonrelational World

Hartling, Linda M.; Sparks, Elizabeth

doi:10.1080/02703140802146332

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…From a multicultural perspective, such challenges often take place in environmentalcultural contexts that many marginalized persons experience as being unjust, oppressive, and violent. These perceptions are supported by RCT theorists and researchers who explain how and why negative relational and controlling images that are fostered in a nonrelational world that is dominated by separate-self ideology need to be constructively addressed in counseling (Hartling, 2003;Hartling & Sparks, 2002).…”

Section: Relational and Controlling Images: Obstacles Of Mutualitymentioning

confidence: 96%

“…1-2) RCT advocates that mental health professionals need to explore how the exploitation of fear serves as a social divide, operates as a chronic cultural disconnection, impedes the formation of communities of resistance, and could potentially affect the future course of the fourth force in counseling and psychology. In light of these fear-based challenges, Hartling and Sparks (2002) emphasized that above all else, multicultural/ social justice advocates should strive to create and work within diverse "communities of allies" (p. 11), where they can most effectively resist and eradicate nonrelational oppressive practices in counseling and in the broader culture.…”

Section: Rct and Multicultural Counseling Within A Culture Of Fear Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relational‐Cultural Theory: A Framework for Bridging Relational, Multicultural, and Social Justice Competencies

Comstock

Hammer

Strentzsch

et al. 2008

Jour of Counseling & Develop

281

245

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Relational-cultural theory (RCT) was conceived after the publication of Jean Baker Miller's (1976) Toward a New Psychology of Women, a groundbreaking book that has been translated into more than 20 languages. The ideas in Miller's book emerged from her clinical practice with women in which she noted that the centrality of relationships in her clients' lives was inconsistent with the traditional theories of counseling and human development she had been taught in medical school. According to Miller and other feminist theorists of the time, these traditional theoretical models emphasize individuation, separation, and autonomy as markers of emotional maturity and psychological health.Miller (1976), like other multicultural and feminist theorists, suggested that a lack of understanding of the contextual and relational experiences of women, people of color, and marginalized men led many mental health professionals to pathologize these individuals by misunderstanding and devaluing how these important factors contribute to the psychological well-being of all people (Robb, 2006). Consequently, RCT complements the multicultural/social justice movement by (a) identifying how contextual and sociocultural challenges impede individuals' ability to create, sustain, and participate in growth-fostering relationships in therapy and life and (b) illuminating the complexities of human development by offering an expansive examination of the development of relational competencies over the life span. Challenges to developing such relational competencies in today's socially stratified and oppressive culture are highlighted throughout this article.Over the past 3.5 decades, Miller (1976) and other multicultural, feminist, and social justice advocates and theorists (Daniels, 2007; Ivey, D'Andrea, Ivey, & Simek-Morgan, 2007) have noted how traditional theories of counseling and development are built on the ideology of Western individualism that includes "hyper-competitiveness and deterministic control" (Walker, 2003, p. 1). Such an ideology is based, in part, on the myths of "mastery," "self-sufficiency," and the idea "that people assume their places in the existing societal hierarchy by virtue of merit" (Jordan, 1999, p. 3).RCT further complements the multicultural/social justice movement by serving as an alternative theoretical framework from which mental health professionals can explore how issues related to sex role socialization, power, dominance, marginalization, and subordination affect the mental health and relational development of all people. The goal of this article is to demonstrate how RCT complements the process of multicultural/social justice counseling competency development by providing an additional theoretical framework that supports the fourth force in counseling and psychology. Core Tenets and Assumptions of RCTRCT is a comprehensive theory of counseling and development that emerged from the notion that traditional models of human development and psychotherapy do not accurately address the relational experiences of w...

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Section: Relational and Controlling Images: Obstacles Of Mutualitymentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Rct and Multicultural Counseling Within A Culture Of Fear Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relational‐Cultural Theory: A Framework for Bridging Relational, Multicultural, and Social Justice Competencies

Comstock

Hammer

Strentzsch

et al. 2008

Jour of Counseling & Develop

281

245

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, practicing RCT in supervision presents challenges among colleagues who use other supervision models. Hartling and Sparks (2008) presented suggestions for overcoming hurdles to relational-cultural practice in counseling and therapy work centers. Recurring suggestions included gradual implementation, recognition of disconnection (conflict) in the move toward growth, and work on relationships at all levels.…”

Section: Recommendations For An Rct Supervisory Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance or Disconnection? A Relational-Cultural Approach to Supervisee Anxiety and Nondisclosure

Abernethy

Cook

2011

Journal of Creativity in Mental Health

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Supervisee anxiety and resistance have long presented counselor supervisors with a dilemma in supporting the professional growth and client care of their supervisees. With a more contemporary and cultural perspective, relational-cultural theory (RCT) offers a relational approach for reframing supervisee anxiety and resistance of counselors-in-training and enhancing supervisory collaboration. RCT upholds the centrality of relationships as the key to growth and well-being. Through an RCT lens, supervisee anxiety and nondisclosure represent disconnections that can be overcome with mutual empathy, relational authenticity, and mutual empowerment. Applications of these RCT building blocks to supervision are described and illustrate the importance of connection for mutual professional growth by supervisee and supervisor.Emphasis on the relationship in workplace supervision has gained recognition and attention with topics of relational practices

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“…For example, Hammer, Trepal, and Speedlin (2014) suggested that women mentor other women from a relational-cultural theory perspective, which promotes mutual respect and empathy as foundational to a relationship. Shifts toward mutuality in the mentoring relationship might allow for larger systemic change (Hartling & Sparks, 2008), which may be especially helpful in academia, where gender discrimination remains prevalent (Easterly & Ricard, 2011).…”

Section: Implications For Counselor Educatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Phenomenological Investigation of Counseling Doctoral Students Becoming Mothers

Holm

Prosek

Weisberger

2015

Couns Edu & Supervision

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Relational-Cultural Practice: Working in a Nonrelational World

Cited by 18 publications

References 6 publications

Relational‐Cultural Theory: A Framework for Bridging Relational, Multicultural, and Social Justice Competencies

Relational‐Cultural Theory: A Framework for Bridging Relational, Multicultural, and Social Justice Competencies

Resistance or Disconnection? A Relational-Cultural Approach to Supervisee Anxiety and Nondisclosure

A Phenomenological Investigation of Counseling Doctoral Students Becoming Mothers

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