I’m grateful to see this piece written. When I was in graduate school after completing our mandatory multiculturalism course, I had a one on one with the Dean of the clinical counseling department to raise a number of issues about the framework and ways we were to navigate conversations with clients of color. As a Latina, I saw many of the issues you speak to in this article. Please keep up the good work.
Hi Scout, yes of course. I observed two main issues in my class. First, regarding classroom dynamics, the class naturally segregated itself by race before midterm, with white students and students of color sitting on opposite sides. This separation occurred organically, without explicit direction. The framework's introduction created a stark divide: white students experienced a rapid "awakening" while students of color faced uncomfortable exposure of their pain and history. Second, regarding clinical concerns, there's a clear need to find common ground rather than creating division. The portrayal of clients of color seems overly simplistic, suggesting they wouldn't want individual support. This perspective reinforces unhelpful narratives by implying clients of color might not know what they want due to assimilation experiences. My questions for the Dean focused on how we can create an environment that brings students together rather than dividing them while learning about these sensitive topics, and how we can develop a more nuanced understanding of clients of color that acknowledges their ability to seek and benefit from individual support. The Dean took the time to hear me out and they moved forward with hiring a different head of Diversity who was a person of color. I am unsure how the course itself changed after my time there.
Thanks, I appreciate the response and that was interesting to hear the context and your experiences. Hopefully the new head was more sympathetic to your point of view! Best of luck.
Wow, I don’t recognize myself at all in that portrayal of therapy, nor do I recognize any of my clients, most of whom are nonwhite. I know one thing for sure, I’d make a terrible activist. I think I’ll stick to evidence-based treatments until the evidence base changes.
I’m grateful to see this piece written. When I was in graduate school after completing our mandatory multiculturalism course, I had a one on one with the Dean of the clinical counseling department to raise a number of issues about the framework and ways we were to navigate conversations with clients of color. As a Latina, I saw many of the issues you speak to in this article. Please keep up the good work.
Would you be willing to expand a bit on what questions you asked the Dean or at least how they responded to your questions? I’m curious.
Hi Scout, yes of course. I observed two main issues in my class. First, regarding classroom dynamics, the class naturally segregated itself by race before midterm, with white students and students of color sitting on opposite sides. This separation occurred organically, without explicit direction. The framework's introduction created a stark divide: white students experienced a rapid "awakening" while students of color faced uncomfortable exposure of their pain and history. Second, regarding clinical concerns, there's a clear need to find common ground rather than creating division. The portrayal of clients of color seems overly simplistic, suggesting they wouldn't want individual support. This perspective reinforces unhelpful narratives by implying clients of color might not know what they want due to assimilation experiences. My questions for the Dean focused on how we can create an environment that brings students together rather than dividing them while learning about these sensitive topics, and how we can develop a more nuanced understanding of clients of color that acknowledges their ability to seek and benefit from individual support. The Dean took the time to hear me out and they moved forward with hiring a different head of Diversity who was a person of color. I am unsure how the course itself changed after my time there.
Thanks, I appreciate the response and that was interesting to hear the context and your experiences. Hopefully the new head was more sympathetic to your point of view! Best of luck.
Thanks for reading, Scout!
Wow, I don’t recognize myself at all in that portrayal of therapy, nor do I recognize any of my clients, most of whom are nonwhite. I know one thing for sure, I’d make a terrible activist. I think I’ll stick to evidence-based treatments until the evidence base changes.
Ugh. The timing of this article couldn’t be worse (or more perfect).
I quit my technology career and went back to grad school to become a counselor. I’m in my second class and guess what book I BROKE OPEN yesterday?
Yep. This one. I was abhorred by what I read. Some of the underlying points I get - it’s the delivery - and this article sums it up well.
Now I know it’s not just me - but also that I’ll have a very long semester :).
It’s been very eye opening to jump back into academia after 20 years and witness the Marxist undertones embedded everywhere.
Sorry to hear about that but I’m right there with you!