Social justice competencies for counselling and psychotherapy: Perceptions of experienced practitioners and implications for contemporary practice

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to identify social justice competencies from the perspective of psychotherapists engaged in therapeutic practice. Twenty‐five therapists were asked, “What social justice competencies do psychotherapists need?” Responses were analysed using the concept mapping method. Nine participants grouped all unique interview responses into groups. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were applied. The six competency areas identified included community activism, political influence on clinical work, critical consciousness, social responsibility, self‐awareness and personal style. The results were compared and contrasted with the literature. Considerable overlap was noted. The main differences concerned the need for collaboration as an advocacy tactic, as well as local knowledge about the pressing social issues affecting members of the community within which one practices.

Adjustment challenges faced by Yazidi youth refugees in Canada

“…Step 5: Interpretation In this step, an appropriate number of clusters are selected by the researcher based on two factors: the average bridging indices and the level of similarity between the clusters (Brown et al, 2019;Kane & Trochim, 2007a). Different cluster maps were reviewed.…”

Clients’ own perspectives on psychotherapy outcomes and their mechanisms.

“…Future client-focused research should also include more underrepresented and marginalized populations (Levitt, 2015), with a focus on how the intersection of power and privilege can influence a client's perceptions of what works or harms in therapy and how this happens (Levitt et al, 2016). Relatedly, future client-focused research can address social justice in psychotherapy, such as by complementing existing research on therapists' perspectives on important social justice competencies (e.g., Brown et al, 2019). For too long, the field has failed to adequately address or study social justice issues (Paquin et al, 2019), and the client perspective can help to better define outcomes and outcome mechanisms that are respectful of diversity and inclusion.…”

Implementing a Social Justice Leadership Framework in Career Counseling

“…Career practitioners also demonstrate a social justice stance through curiosity, compassion, openness, and empathy during a counseling session. Within this personal dimension, they must be willing to explore their own biases and the impact they have on the clients (Brown et al, 2019). This way of being in the counseling relationship begins with the personal dimensions and extends across interpersonal, communal, systemic, and ecological.…”

“…As Mae understands how her own intersection impacts the practitioner‐client relationship, she engages in personal and critical self‐reflection. Through this intentional personal and interpersonal work, Mae demonstrates her capacity to implement the social justice leadership framework in fostering culturally responsive, socially just, and praxis‐based career services (Brown et al, 2019; Furman, 2012).…”