Intersectional Psychology

https://www.youtube.com/watch/clqnpjpwR2M

00:00:00.580 [Music]
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00:00:59.480 g.com and search for social justice in
00:01:05.479 psychology. If you don’t need points
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00:01:13.090 [Music]
00:01:18.159 Hello and welcome to Intersectional
00:01:21.479 Psychology, the podcast that explores
00:01:24.000 psychologyy’s role in promoting social
00:01:27.000 justice. I’m your host, Aurora Brown.
00:01:30.320 I’m a registered counselor in Cape Town,
00:01:32.880 South
00:01:34.040 Africa. I’m glad you’re here. How in the
00:01:38.079 world are you? I would love to hear if
00:01:41.439 you have any thoughts on this or the
00:01:43.920 previous episode or if there are any
00:01:46.640 particular questions or topics you’d
00:01:48.720 like me to cover on the podcast in
00:01:52.439 future. This is our second episode of
00:01:55.759 the dissecting intersectional psychology
00:01:59.240 series and today we are going to talk
00:02:02.560 about social justice in
00:02:05.799 psychology. So let’s start with a
00:02:08.239 question.
00:02:10.080 Why does the concept of social justice
00:02:13.280 in psychology
00:02:15.319 seem so random or
00:02:19.080 revolutionary but so
00:02:22.760 necessary? Well, some might argue that
00:02:25.680 it’s because humanity’s flaws are on
00:02:28.879 full display right now globally,
00:02:33.080 locally, perhaps even in our personal
00:02:35.760 relationships.
00:02:38.239 But I’ll let you in on a little
00:02:40.599 secret. The rising opposition to equity
00:02:44.000 and
00:02:45.480 equality. It’s not a reason to retreat.
00:02:48.959 It’s our
00:02:50.360 megaphone. Right-wing governments
00:02:52.560 pandering to extremist
00:02:55.080 fringes. That’s not because those groups
00:02:58.000 are smarter or more numerous.
00:03:01.680 It’s because they’re loud, disruptive,
00:03:05.040 and often
00:03:06.440 unapologetically
00:03:08.760 insistent. So, what is stopping us from
00:03:12.159 using our own voices to advocate for
00:03:15.200 fairness and
00:03:17.879 dignity? Nothing. Nada
00:03:23.480 ato. I’m not advocating for violence.
00:03:27.200 That’s their style.
00:03:29.840 but disruption, empathy, and
00:03:33.000 wellorganized
00:03:36.200 advocacy. Now we’re
00:03:38.599 talking. So today we’re unpacking the
00:03:41.360 critical role that social justice plays
00:03:44.000 in mental health and in
00:03:46.680 psychology. Why? Because as the late
00:03:50.400 Maya Angelou said, do your best until
00:03:53.680 you know better. And then when you know
00:03:57.239 better, do
00:03:59.239 better. And
00:04:01.000 psychology, our
00:04:03.080 flawed, beautiful discipline, knows
00:04:07.400 better. It’s a field where science meets
00:04:12.120 humanity, where listening can transform
00:04:16.918 lives, and where addressing inequality
00:04:20.160 isn’t
00:04:21.639 optional, it’s ethical.
00:04:25.199 Social justice isn’t just a buzzword for
00:04:28.720 social media warriors. It’s a belief, a
00:04:33.000 conviction that everyone deserves equal
00:04:36.520 opportunities and fair distribution of
00:04:39.199 societal
00:04:41.320 benefits. Almadani and Post in 2023
00:04:45.280 defined advocacy as systemic change
00:04:48.240 work.
00:04:49.840 It’s about speaking truth to power while
00:04:52.960 understanding how traumainformed care
00:04:55.840 and cultural humility shape our
00:04:58.800 attitudes to
00:05:01.160 advocacy. It’s self-awareness in action.
00:05:06.160 Malenrretz and colleagues in 2014
00:05:09.280 beautifully framed social justice as
00:05:12.440 ensuring full and equal participation
00:05:16.000 for all groups shaped by their
00:05:19.800 needs. It’s about making sure that
00:05:22.479 everyone has access to safety,
00:05:25.720 resources, and opportunities to
00:05:28.759 thrive. Physical and psychological
00:05:31.919 safety included.
00:05:35.520 It sounds like common sense,
00:05:38.840 right? And yet inequity remains baked
00:05:42.720 into our
00:05:45.000 systems. Andrews and colleagues in 2023
00:05:48.800 gave us what I like to call the Justice
00:05:52.240 League of Social
00:05:53.960 Justice. Different types of justice
00:05:57.440 working together to save the
00:06:00.039 world. Firstly, we have distributive
00:06:02.880 justice.
00:06:04.400 It’s not about giving everyone the same
00:06:07.199 size slice of the
00:06:09.400 pie. It’s about giving everyone a slice
00:06:12.720 of the size that they need. Making sure
00:06:16.639 those who are starving get enough pie to
00:06:19.680 survive and
00:06:22.520 thrive. Remember our little image of
00:06:25.919 people standing on boxes in the previous
00:06:28.319 episode.
00:06:31.160 Secondly, secondly we have procedural
00:06:34.440 justice. Decisions must be fair,
00:06:37.360 transparent and
00:06:39.400 inclusive. No backroom deals, no
00:06:42.639 silenced
00:06:45.160 voices. Thirdly, participatory justice.
00:06:49.280 Those most affected by oppression must
00:06:52.639 be the loudest voices in the room when
00:06:55.199 it comes to decisions that affect them.
00:07:00.080 And fourthly, epistemic
00:07:02.680 justice. We need to recognize the
00:07:05.360 expertise that comes from lived
00:07:08.840 experience of those who’ve lived through
00:07:12.680 oppression. Lived experience isn’t just
00:07:15.720 valid, it’s invaluable.
00:07:20.319 So these definitions give us the road
00:07:23.400 map but the
00:07:25.639 destination that requires advocacy and
00:07:30.440 action. So pretending systemic
00:07:33.919 oppression doesn’t exist is out of the
00:07:37.560 question. Instead we need to address it
00:07:40.800 head
00:07:41.880 on together. There’s power in collective
00:07:47.720 action. As Kjan and Bluestein reminded
00:07:51.039 us in
00:07:52.360 2018, it’s not enough to study these
00:07:55.520 concepts in ivory towers. We must apply
00:07:59.120 them in counseling rooms, organizations,
00:08:02.400 and public policy decisions.
00:08:07.560 [Music]
00:08:15.840 Why psychology and social justice are
00:08:18.759 BFFs and it’s time we act like
00:08:24.060 [Music]
00:08:28.680 it. All right. So I believe that
00:08:32.719 psychology and social justice go
00:08:35.120 together
00:08:36.200 like Freud and repression like coffee
00:08:41.120 and
00:08:42.599 deadlines. But why? Psychology at its
00:08:46.800 core is about human
00:08:48.920 well-being. It studies what makes people
00:08:51.600 thrive, struggle, and more importantly
00:08:55.279 what we can do to help them live their
00:08:57.760 best lives.
00:08:59.839 So if psychology exists to help people
00:09:03.279 and if certain groups are held back by
00:09:05.600 systemic oppression like racism, sexism
00:09:08.640 or
00:09:09.399 homophobia, then psychology has a moral
00:09:12.480 and professional obligation to fight
00:09:15.440 those systems.
00:09:19.279 If you’re here, it’s probably not news
00:09:22.160 to you that social oppression doesn’t
00:09:24.959 just hurt feelings. It rewires brains
00:09:28.880 and wrecks
00:09:30.920 lives. Rosenthal in 2016 explained how
00:09:34.959 stigma and discrimination act like a
00:09:37.600 wrecking ball for mental and physical
00:09:40.080 health.
00:09:41.760 When someone faces constant
00:09:44.760 microaggressions, outright bigotry, or
00:09:47.680 systemic exclusion, their brain isn’t
00:09:51.080 just annoyed, it’s in survival
00:09:56.120 mode. This prolonged stress messes with
00:09:59.760 cognitive functioning, making it harder
00:10:02.800 to think clearly, focus, or make
00:10:05.920 decisions.
00:10:07.600 It amps up the body’s stress hormones
00:10:10.320 like cortisol, which in case you’re
00:10:13.440 wondering, isn’t something you want
00:10:15.519 marinating your organs
00:10:19.000 24/7. Over time, this toxic cocktail
00:10:23.040 contributes to increased risk of heart
00:10:26.000 disease, depression, anxiety,
00:10:30.200 and yes, early mortality.
00:10:35.040 Discrimination isn’t just bad vibes or
00:10:38.560 something you can journal your way out
00:10:40.600 of. It’s a full frontal attack on
00:10:43.680 someone’s
00:10:45.160 well-being. It’s so serious that there’s
00:10:47.760 even a name for it. It’s called minority
00:10:52.440 stress. Racism, sexism,
00:10:56.519 transphobia, they have physical and
00:10:58.880 psychological effects just like other
00:11:02.160 forms of trauma.
00:11:05.040 That’s why the push for social justice
00:11:07.440 in psychology isn’t some idealistic
00:11:10.880 extracurricular
00:11:13.480 activity like a podcast.
00:11:19.640 [Music]
00:11:39.510 [Music]
00:11:52.730 [Music]
00:12:23.519 Heat. Heat.
00:12:26.580 [Music]
00:12:58.480 Heat. Heat.
00:13:17.680 Heat. Heat.
00:13:41.830 [Music]
00:13:51.839 Honey, what are we even doing?
00:13:57.760 It’s as essential to our field as
00:14:01.320 understanding how attachment works in
00:14:04.680 relationships or how cognitive
00:14:06.959 behavioral therapy tackles
00:14:11.079 anxiety. Social justice isn’t extra
00:14:14.399 credit for mental health practitioners.
00:14:17.440 It should be central to everything we
00:14:19.839 do.
00:14:22.240 If we’re not using our knowledge and
00:14:24.560 resources to dismantle
00:14:27.160 oppression, then honey, what are we even
00:14:34.120 doing? It’s as essential to our field as
00:14:38.680 understanding how attachment works in
00:14:42.040 relationships or how cognitive
00:14:44.320 behavioral therapy tackles anxiety.
00:14:49.440 Social justice isn’t extra credit for
00:14:52.800 mental health practitioners. It should
00:14:55.279 be central to everything we
00:14:58.600 do. If we’re not using our knowledge and
00:15:01.959 resources
00:15:03.160 [Music]
00:15:10.120 to barriers to
00:15:12.760 advocacy, why good intentions aren’t
00:15:15.839 enough.
00:15:21.090 [Music]
00:15:30.720 If intentions were
00:15:33.320 actions, I’d have published a book ages
00:15:36.920 ago. But good intentions aren’t enough,
00:15:40.560 especially in advocacy work.
00:15:43.680 Social justice advocacy sounds great in
00:15:46.680 theory, but in practice it’s hard work
00:15:50.240 and it comes with real
00:15:52.519 barriers. Burns and Christensen in 2020
00:15:56.320 identified one major
00:15:58.440 problem. Even though students in
00:16:00.800 psychology want more social justice
00:16:04.199 training, the field isn’t giving it to
00:16:06.880 them.
00:16:08.480 programs are still stuck in outdated
00:16:10.920 curricula, treating advocacy as an
00:16:14.079 afterthought instead of a critical
00:16:17.000 skill. Here in South Africa, more and
00:16:20.240 more universities are making some form
00:16:23.199 of critical decolonial or liberatory
00:16:27.360 psychology a required module for
00:16:30.160 psychology
00:16:31.639 curricular. But it remains a largely
00:16:34.830 [Music]
00:16:36.040 theoretical module and it is left up to
00:16:39.680 the students if and how they are going
00:16:43.040 to bring it into their
00:16:45.720 practice. And then there’s the fear
00:16:49.000 factor. Calves and Cummings described
00:16:51.839 this in their 2022 research on
00:16:55.320 decolonizing
00:16:57.079 psychology. Mental health practitioners
00:16:59.519 hesitate to engage in advocacy because
00:17:02.560 they’re afraid of making mistakes, of
00:17:05.439 offending people, or heaven for fend
00:17:09.280 having their privilege challenged.
00:17:12.880 Let’s call this what this is,
00:17:17.000 discomfort. And discomfort isn’t
00:17:20.039 fatal. Ignoring oppression is far more
00:17:23.280 dangerous than confronting a bit of
00:17:27.480 awkwardness. So, what can we
00:17:30.120 do? Firstly, look at training programs.
00:17:34.320 Advocacy needs to be woven into the
00:17:37.039 fabric of psychology
00:17:39.320 training. This isn’t optional. is an
00:17:42.640 ethical
00:17:44.520 imperative. Are you discussing advocacy
00:17:47.200 with the colleagues in your practice or
00:17:49.919 in your supervision
00:17:52.679 groups? If you have a journal club, are
00:17:56.000 you bringing articles related to social
00:17:58.400 justice and advocacy to be
00:18:02.440 discussed? Secondly, self-reflection.
00:18:06.559 Abraham and colleagues in 2022
00:18:09.760 emphasized the importance of
00:18:11.799 self-awareness and privilege checking in
00:18:14.559 therapeutic
00:18:16.760 practice. It’s uncomfortable,
00:18:20.120 sure, but when has growth ever been
00:18:25.240 comfortable? That’s why they literally
00:18:27.600 call it growing pains.
00:18:35.360 Social justice is about systemic change,
00:18:38.799 but it doesn’t have to start big. No one
00:18:42.240 can tackle every big
00:18:45.000 issue. Just start with a real challenge
00:18:48.480 that one of your clients is
00:18:51.240 facing. Advocate for your client and
00:18:54.400 you’ll soon see that their challenge is
00:18:56.720 more widespread than you
00:18:59.000 supposed. If you make a difference to
00:19:01.360 one client, that’s already a win.
00:19:05.440 And if you manage to make a difference
00:19:07.600 at a systems
00:19:09.400 level, even if it’s just for a small
00:19:12.160 group of people, you might prevent
00:19:15.039 someone like your client getting to the
00:19:17.520 level of crisis that brought your client
00:19:20.240 to counseling in the first place.
00:19:24.330 [Music]
00:19:36.720 Practical
00:19:37.980 [Music]
00:19:44.920 [Music]
00:19:51.480 advocacy. All right, we’ve covered the
00:19:54.400 theory. Now, let’s roll up our sleeves
00:19:57.280 and talk about what this looks like in
00:19:59.840 real life.
00:20:01.600 Advocacy isn’t just for marches or
00:20:04.720 political rallies. It’s deeply embedded
00:20:08.240 in the day-to-day work of psychology
00:20:12.520 professionals. Kazan and Bluestein
00:20:15.200 identified three levels of advocacy in
00:20:18.600 2018 and each plays a crucial
00:20:22.200 role. Firstly, individual level
00:20:25.880 advocacy. This is what happens in
00:20:28.400 counseling rooms. It’s connecting
00:20:31.360 marginalized clients with
00:20:34.360 resources, using culturally adapted
00:20:37.720 interventions, and crafting treatment
00:20:40.080 plans that acknowledge the impact of
00:20:42.559 systemic oppression.
00:20:46.440 [Music]
00:20:58.200 Hello, it’s me,
00:21:01.240 Aurora. Please excuse me interrupting my
00:21:04.480 own
00:21:05.480 podcast. I’m just here to say that I
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00:21:11.360 intersectional
00:21:12.919 psychology, which is great because it
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00:21:17.840 mental health information and content
00:21:20.320 shared here is free from corporate
00:21:22.799 influence and bias.
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00:22:20.400 intersectional
00:22:22.360 psychology. Thanks, and back to
00:22:25.919 intersectional psychology.
00:22:32.380 [Music]
00:22:46.000 Speaking of culturally adapted
00:22:48.120 interventions, I heard a story during my
00:22:50.799 training about a young black boy who was
00:22:53.679 given an IQ test in South Africa many
00:22:57.360 decades ago.
00:22:59.200 and he really struggled to answer the
00:23:01.919 questions because the context for them
00:23:04.480 was so outside his frame of reference.
00:23:08.000 For example, one question was, “Do you
00:23:10.960 drink your tea out of a cup or a mug?”
00:23:14.559 And he had no idea how to answer that
00:23:17.320 because he’d only ever drunk his tea out
00:23:20.240 of a tin
00:23:22.679 can. And so he scored very low on the IQ
00:23:26.720 test.
00:23:28.080 But many decades later, he became a
00:23:32.000 university professor at
00:23:34.520 Oxford. So simply
00:23:37.559 adapting interventions to fit the
00:23:40.559 context of the client can make a huge
00:23:44.960 difference to the outcomes in
00:23:47.960 assessments, in treatment
00:23:51.159 planning and to their real world life
00:23:54.799 circumstances and their
00:23:59.159 future. The second level of advocacy is
00:24:02.240 organizational level advocacy.
00:24:05.679 Within workplaces, advocacy might mean
00:24:08.720 pushing for policies that promote equity
00:24:11.440 and
00:24:12.760 inclusion. How diverse is your practice?
00:24:16.400 How many practitioners of color do you
00:24:18.840 have? How many queer professionals are
00:24:21.799 there? Do you have any counselors with
00:24:25.960 disabilities? When clients come in and
00:24:28.799 see someone like themselves or even
00:24:31.840 someone outside of the norm, they’re
00:24:35.120 immediately going to feel that your
00:24:36.880 practice is a safer place for
00:24:39.880 them. Of course, they’re going to feel
00:24:42.159 more comfortable to be themselves and to
00:24:45.039 talk about these
00:24:47.159 issues. And you haven’t even done any
00:24:49.520 work yet.
00:24:53.039 But organizational level advocacy also
00:24:56.400 means speaking up when you see
00:24:59.640 microaggressions or systemic bias
00:25:02.000 playing out. Does your receptionist hide
00:25:05.840 her bag or her phone when certain
00:25:08.080 clients come in? What message is that
00:25:11.440 sending to them if they see it?
00:25:16.159 Do you turn on the air conditioning in
00:25:19.200 your
00:25:20.360 office out of
00:25:23.320 habit? Are you being aware of the
00:25:26.799 environmental impact that your practice
00:25:29.279 is
00:25:30.600 having? Because the climate also impacts
00:25:35.279 impacts our clients
00:25:37.799 and their
00:25:40.360 futures and their children’s futures.
00:25:46.000 Third is community level
00:25:48.360 advocacy. This is the big picture stuff.
00:25:51.840 Partnering with community organizers,
00:25:54.799 advocating for public policies that
00:25:57.039 address
00:25:58.200 inequity, and amplifying marginalized
00:26:01.200 voices in every way
00:26:04.600 possible. Share persons of color on
00:26:07.600 social media.
00:26:11.039 What this looks like in counseling
00:26:13.320 practice was described by Lee and
00:26:15.840 colleagues in
00:26:17.159 2022. They proposed a model for
00:26:19.760 broaching and bridging in cross-cultural
00:26:23.320 psychotherapy which emphasizes the
00:26:25.600 therapist’s role in addressing cultural
00:26:28.320 factors and systemic oppression to
00:26:31.279 enhance therapeutic outcomes.
00:26:34.720 Roaching involves the therapist’s
00:26:37.200 intentional understanding of cultural
00:26:39.760 aspects and systemic oppression as well
00:26:43.200 as deliberate efforts to discuss these
00:26:46.159 with
00:26:47.159 clients. It’s both a skill and a stance
00:26:51.520 reflecting cultural competence and
00:26:55.480 humility. Broaching is not just about
00:26:58.240 addressing cultural topics when clients
00:27:00.640 bring them up. It’s also about
00:27:03.799 proactively introducing these topics to
00:27:06.799 ensure that cultural and structural
00:27:09.760 factors are integrated into the therapy
00:27:14.520 process. However, there are significant
00:27:17.679 barriers to
00:27:19.480 broaching. Therapists may experience
00:27:23.120 emotional
00:27:24.440 discomfort, such as fear of offending
00:27:27.360 their clients or anxiety about
00:27:30.720 discussing sensitive topics like race
00:27:33.440 and
00:27:35.480 culture. There’s also a pervasive
00:27:38.760 resistance to these
00:27:41.159 discussions, often rooted in dominant
00:27:43.919 societal norms that avoid race and
00:27:46.799 culture talks.
00:27:51.080 Additionally, many counselors lack
00:27:53.440 training in the micro skills needed to
00:27:56.399 brooch
00:27:57.559 effectively, knowing when and how to
00:28:00.480 bring up cultural topics in a way that
00:28:03.039 feels natural and respectful.
00:28:08.480 Bridging then follows broaching and
00:28:12.000 involves exploring shared identities and
00:28:16.000 navigating cultural differences to
00:28:19.039 strengthen the therapeutic
00:28:22.120 alliance. Bridging can occur along a
00:28:25.720 continuum. Additive bridging is
00:28:28.120 superficial where cultural factors are
00:28:30.799 acknowledged but not deeply integrated
00:28:33.840 into the therapy conversation.
00:28:37.520 Integrating bridging involves explicitly
00:28:40.399 connecting cultural factors to the
00:28:42.960 client’s experiences and the counseling
00:28:47.159 process. Infusing bridging goes even
00:28:51.000 further, weaving cultural aspects
00:28:54.000 throughout the entire session and
00:28:56.799 deepening the client’s understanding of
00:28:59.200 how systemic oppression and cultural
00:29:02.159 identity impact their life.
00:29:06.880 Now let’s dive deeper into the
00:29:08.640 dimensions and sequence of brooaching
00:29:11.039 and
00:29:11.960 bridging. The model emphasizes three key
00:29:16.679 dimensions. Firstly, the counselor’s
00:29:20.360 positionality. This involves the
00:29:22.320 counselor reflecting on their own
00:29:24.360 socioultural locations, values, and
00:29:27.360 biases.
00:29:30.080 It’s crucial for counselors to
00:29:32.399 understand how their background and
00:29:34.880 identity might influence the counseling
00:29:39.799 process. Secondly, the counseling
00:29:42.600 relationship. This dimension focuses on
00:29:45.360 the power dynamics and cultural
00:29:47.919 differences between the counselor and
00:29:50.399 the client.
00:29:52.799 Acknowledging these dynamics openly can
00:29:55.760 help build trust and create a safer
00:29:59.279 space for the
00:30:02.440 client. Thirdly, client’s cultural
00:30:07.000 experiences. So here the counselor
00:30:09.360 explores the client’s intersecting
00:30:12.200 identities, cultural background and
00:30:15.520 experiences of systemic oppression.
00:30:19.679 The sequence of brooaching and bridging
00:30:22.559 is
00:30:23.799 critical. Lee and colleagues recommend
00:30:26.399 starting with a therapist’s
00:30:29.080 positionality. By openly discussing your
00:30:32.480 own cultural background and potential
00:30:35.399 biases, the counselor sets a tone of
00:30:39.399 transparency and
00:30:42.039 humility. This helps to normalize
00:30:45.279 conversations about culture and power.
00:30:48.799 making it clear that these discussions
00:30:51.039 are not just about the client’s identity
00:30:54.080 but are relevant to both parties in the
00:30:57.039 counseling
00:31:00.200 relationship. Next, the counselor should
00:31:02.720 address the power dynamics in the
00:31:05.120 counseling
00:31:06.919 relationship. This involves
00:31:09.679 acknowledging any disparities in power
00:31:12.559 and privilege that may exist between the
00:31:15.440 counselor and the client.
00:31:18.399 For example, I as a counselor might say,
00:31:21.919 as a white counselor, I recognize that
00:31:25.360 my experiences and privilege privileges
00:31:28.880 may differ from yours and I want to be
00:31:32.559 mindful of how that might impact our
00:31:35.840 work
00:31:36.840 together. If I do say anything ignorant,
00:31:40.320 please correct
00:31:41.960 me. And this is difficult for healthcare
00:31:44.880 providers, especially doctors and
00:31:47.880 psychologists because they are so used
00:31:50.320 to being the experts in the
00:31:53.480 room. And this is all about recognizing
00:31:57.200 that we are not the experts about every
00:32:00.080 client’s culture or lived experience or
00:32:03.440 frame of reference.
00:32:07.600 Finally, the counselor creates a safe
00:32:10.000 environment for the client to discuss
00:32:12.640 their cultural experiences and
00:32:14.880 structural
00:32:17.320 oppressions. This sequence ensures that
00:32:20.399 the client is not burdened with the task
00:32:23.840 of educating the counselor about their
00:32:26.799 culture or navigating power dynamics
00:32:29.840 alone.
00:32:31.679 Instead, the counselor takes
00:32:33.760 responsibility for initiating these
00:32:37.720 conversations, which fosters a more
00:32:39.919 equitable and collaborative therapeutic
00:32:44.279 relationship. This approach not only
00:32:46.720 enhances the therapeutic alliance, but
00:32:49.679 also achieves hermeneutic and
00:32:52.240 testimonial justice.
00:32:55.200 Hermeneutic justice is about ensuring
00:32:57.519 that the client has the resources and
00:33:00.480 the space to make meaning of their
00:33:04.440 experiences while testimonial justice
00:33:07.440 involves validating the client’s
00:33:09.720 experiences and ensuring that they feel
00:33:12.399 heard.
00:33:14.799 Breaching and bridging are essential for
00:33:17.039 creating a culturally responsive
00:33:19.600 counseling
00:33:21.320 space. By addressing cultural factors
00:33:24.320 and systemic oppression in a structured
00:33:27.200 and intentional way, counselors can
00:33:31.039 strengthen the therapeutic alliance,
00:33:33.919 foster a deeper understanding of the
00:33:36.480 client’s
00:33:38.039 experiences, and ultimately achieve
00:33:41.120 better treatment outcomes.
00:33:45.760 Psychology is at a critical
00:33:49.399 juncture. The profession has violated
00:33:52.399 its ethical code in its treatment of
00:33:55.120 indigenous peoples and frankly anyone
00:33:58.399 who is not straight, white, male,
00:34:01.039 cisgender or straight.
00:34:04.880 We are now the profession’s
00:34:07.000 representatives and we need to take
00:34:09.800 accountability and foster
00:34:14.679 reconciliation.
00:34:16.280 However, many counselors hesitate to act
00:34:19.839 due to fear of the unknown, uncertainty
00:34:23.280 and
00:34:23.790 [Music]
00:34:25.480 discomfort. This hesitation is
00:34:28.000 understandable.
00:34:30.399 Fear of the unknown is a core human
00:34:34.119 experience and decolonizing
00:34:37.000 psychology, a discipline rooted in
00:34:41.320 colonialism, is uncharted
00:34:45.239 territory. Defense mechanisms like
00:34:48.440 denial,
00:34:50.199 rationalization, and
00:34:52.040 intellectualization often emerge as
00:34:54.879 protective responses to this
00:34:57.280 uncertainty.
00:35:00.240 To move forward, psychologists must
00:35:03.040 embrace reconciliation as an ethical
00:35:07.240 imperative. Decolonizing psychology not
00:35:10.560 only fosters ethical practice, but also
00:35:13.920 strengthens relationships with
00:35:15.839 indigenous peoples and contributes to
00:35:18.560 societal healing.
00:35:20.390 [Music]
00:35:33.200 Challenges and risks.
00:35:36.220 [Music]
00:35:49.280 To be real, advocacy isn’t all sunshine
00:35:53.520 and
00:35:54.920 rainbows. It comes with real
00:35:58.119 challenges. Advocacy can be draining,
00:36:02.119 frustrating, and at times downright
00:36:05.760 dangerous.
00:36:08.880 Hoofer in 2018 pointed out that the more
00:36:12.480 prominent advocates often face
00:36:15.000 harassment, job loss, and even threats
00:36:18.160 to their
00:36:19.480 safety. And yet they
00:36:24.119 continue.
00:36:27.000 Why? Because staying silent would be
00:36:29.920 worse.
00:36:33.680 Some common challenges that advocates
00:36:35.920 face include
00:36:38.520 burnout. The emotional labor of
00:36:41.760 constantly fighting for equity can take
00:36:44.720 a
00:36:45.480 toll. It’s why self-care is
00:36:49.240 vital. Not another buzzword, but a
00:36:52.880 lifeline.
00:36:55.680 And secondly, backlash is another common
00:36:59.400 challenge. Advocates often encounter
00:37:02.079 resistance from those who benefit from
00:37:04.960 the status quo. And yes, that can make
00:37:08.640 you
00:37:10.200 unpopular. But some strategies for
00:37:13.720 success. Firstly, plan
00:37:17.240 strategically. Know who your opponents
00:37:19.839 are and anticipate their arguments.
00:37:25.599 Secondly, build a support
00:37:28.200 network. Advocacy isn’t a solo
00:37:31.720 sport. Surround yourself with people who
00:37:34.800 share your goals and can lift you up
00:37:37.760 when the road gets rough.
00:37:42.570 [Music]
00:37:52.240 The call to
00:37:56.750 [Music]
00:38:08.440 action. So, we’ve unpacked the why, the
00:38:12.560 what, and the how. Now the only question
00:38:16.000 left is when do we
00:38:19.079 start? The
00:38:21.160 answer right
00:38:23.160 now. If you’re a psychologist, a
00:38:26.079 registered counselor, a mental health
00:38:28.400 professional, or just a concerned human
00:38:31.400 being, there is a role for you in this
00:38:35.160 fight. Advocacy doesn’t have to be
00:38:38.520 grandiose, and not everyone has to be on
00:38:41.359 the front lines.
00:38:43.359 We need medics in the tent as
00:38:45.800 well. It can start with a conversation,
00:38:49.040 a challenge to an unjust policy, or a
00:38:52.400 willingness to listen and
00:38:55.480 learn. Some concrete actions that you
00:38:58.240 can take. Reflect on your own biases and
00:39:03.000 privileges. Be honest with
00:39:06.599 yourself. We all have
00:39:09.240 internalized biases. It’s the way we
00:39:12.480 were raised. There’s nothing to be
00:39:14.320 ashamed of unless we don’t address
00:39:22.119 them. Join organizations that focus on
00:39:25.280 equity and justice in mental health.
00:39:28.800 There is more safety and support in
00:39:32.599 numbers. Push for systemic change in
00:39:35.280 your professional circles.
00:39:38.480 Never underestimate the power of showing
00:39:41.160 up consistently and
00:39:45.640 unapologetically. As Angela Davis says,
00:39:48.640 “I am no longer accepting the things I
00:39:51.280 cannot change. I am changing the things
00:39:54.320 I cannot
00:39:56.760 accept.” Let’s roll up our sleeves and
00:39:59.359 get to
00:40:01.480 work. Thank you for being here. If you
00:40:04.800 have any questions or comments about
00:40:06.800 this episode or the podcast in general,
00:40:10.880 please send them
00:40:12.680 in. Next week, we’re going to be looking
00:40:15.280 at very practical ways
00:40:18.680 of advocating for social justice and how
00:40:22.240 that fits into our scope of practice as
00:40:24.880 mental health practitioners.
00:40:28.720 And if you’re just a concerned citizen,
00:40:30.640 we are also going to look at some of the
00:40:33.440 guidelines around organizing and
00:40:37.960 protesting. So, please rate and review
00:40:40.880 intersectional psychology five stars in
00:40:43.839 your podcast app. And you can also join
00:40:47.040 the deeper discussion on
00:40:49.720 Patreon. Look after yourself. I’ll speak
00:40:52.720 to you soon.
00:40:56.400 Thank you for listening to
00:40:57.680 Intersectional
00:40:59.160 Psychology. Please follow or subscribe
00:41:01.680 to the podcast to get every episode. If
00:41:05.200 you enjoyed this episode, please rate
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00:41:19.280 This episode of Intersectional
00:41:21.640 Psychology was researched, written,
00:41:24.560 recorded, and edited by me, Aurora
00:41:28.119 Brown. For a transcript of this episode,
00:41:31.359 please see the link in the show notes on
00:41:33.440 your podcast app or go to intersectional
00:41:37.960 psychology.com. You can also check the
00:41:40.319 website or the show notes for a full
00:41:42.880 list of references for this episode.
00:41:47.839 A video of this episode with closed
00:41:50.480 captions is available on
00:41:53.760 [Music]
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00:42:15.880 psychology. You can also chat with me on
00:42:18.560 blue sky at intersects.bsky.social
00:42:23.680 social and Instagram, Facebook or Tik
00:42:26.800 Tok @ intersectional
00:42:29.400 psychology, but mostly Blue
00:42:32.810 [Music]
00:42:34.440 Sky. Aurora Brown and Intersectional
00:42:37.440 Psychology are committed to the site
00:42:40.160 black women practice.
00:42:44.720 All episodes of intersectional
00:42:46.839 psychology are for educational purposes
00:42:49.760 only and are not intended to be a
00:42:52.560 substitute for professional mental
00:42:54.640 health advice, diagnosis or
00:42:57.960 treatment. I, Aurora Brown, am not able
00:43:01.520 to answer specific questions about
00:43:03.920 individual situations.
00:43:06.800 Always seek the advice of your health
00:43:09.200 provider with any questions you may have
00:43:12.000 regarding a mental health
00:43:14.200 condition. Never disregard professional
00:43:16.880 medical advice or delay in seeking it
00:43:20.079 because of something you have heard or
00:43:22.000 seen on this
00:43:23.880 podcast. If you think you need immediate
00:43:26.599 assistance, please call your local
00:43:29.119 emergency number or any mental health
00:43:31.760 crisis hotline.
00:43:34.079 Everyone deserves good mental health.
00:43:44.180 [Music]