Socially Just and Culturally Responsive Leadership Within Counseling and Counseling Psychology: A Grounded Theory Investigation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an abstracted theory concerning how counseling and counseling psychology leaders and educators engage in and enact socially just and culturally responsive leadership in professional association and higher education contexts. This grounded theory study included 18 participants with a range of social locations and professional leadership experiences in counseling and counseling psychology associations and higher education. Findings from this study were analyzed and are presented using the Straussian tradition of grounded theory. We discuss implications for counseling leadership, training, and development; social justice, cultural responsivity, and advocacy; and future research.

Professional Leadership, Racial Microaggressions, and Career Adaptability Of Minoritized Clinicians in the United States

“…While CACREP explains that counselor education and supervision doctoral programs must equip students with the skills needed to assume leadership positions in the profession (CACREP, 2021), counsellors-in-training might also benefit from learning about the importance of becoming engaged in counselling leadership. Having more master’s level counsellors and clinicians of color equipped with leadership skills and awareness of leadership opportunities could help to diversify leadership at all levels of the profession and help in the advancement towards social justice leadership (Peters et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Leadership, multiculturalism, and advocacy are critically important to the success of the counselling profession (Meany-Walen et al, 2013 ). Recently, there has been more movement towards social justice leadership within the counselling and mental health professions (Peters et al, 2020 ) discussed that social justice leadership is intentional and leadership should not be predominantly held by those with privileged identities. Thus, there is a need for increased diversity within counselling and mental health leadership.…”

Child‐centered play therapy and adverse childhood experiences: A randomized controlled trial

“…The implementation of CCPT services in the schools may represent an effective way to address physical and structural barriers to mental health care for children marginalized at the intersection of race and poverty. Apart from issues of accessibility, culturally inclusive mental health practices encompass socioenvironmental factors, including cultural humility, sensitivity, empathy, knowledge, and guidance (Peters et al., 2020). In the current study, children across identity groups improved in total behavior, empathy, self‐regulation/responsibility, and social competence, suggesting that within the guiding tenets and operationalization of CCPT, play therapists may be able to effectively implement culturally inclusive principles.…”

Systemic Advocacy for BIPOC LGBTQIA + Clients and Their Families

“…The strive for inclusion, appreciation for difference, and equity is the aim of culturally responsive models, including the SJCRCLM. The SJCRCLM was catalyzed from culturally responsive leadership practices within pedagogy and varying other communities (Johnson, 2018;Peters et al, 2020). Lopez (2016) was a pioneer in the recognition of socially just and culturally responsive leadership models.…”

“…As advocacy evolves, these on-going efforts must provide increased inclusivity for the diverse clients and their families. Definitions of leadership in counseling have expanded to include cultural responsivity and connections to social justice (Peters et al, 2020). Cultural responsivity, which is crucial to understanding clients' socio-cultural worldviews, has since been conceptualized to include cultural sensitivity, cultural knowledge, cultural empathy, cultural guidance, and (most recently) cultural humility (American Psychological Association [APA], 2017; Hook et al, 2013).…”