Counselling Psychology and Under-Represented Groups: A Vision for Advocacy as Mutual Transformation

Authors

  • Janelle L. Kwee Trinity Western University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v54i4.70673

Abstract

The discipline of counselling psychology in Canada has aligned consistently with social justice principles. Consistent with this, a working group at the 2018 Canadian Counselling Psychology Conference was assigned to consider the role of Canadian counselling psychology in advocating for the needs of members of under-represented groups. This brief report captures insights from the working group and focuses on two primary themes: a critical reformulation of advocacy as mutual transformation for personal and social change and a need to engage with change processes at multiple levels. The group conceptualized effective advocacy as recentring historically marginalized perspectives while decentring “expert” roles and traditionally dominant perspectives.

Author Biography

Janelle L. Kwee, Trinity Western University

Janelle L. Kwee is program director of the Master of Arts program in counselling psychology at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. Her main research interests are in women’s pregnancy and postpartum mental health, lifespan integration therapy, and existential analysis.

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Published

2020-12-12

How to Cite

Kwee, J. L. (2020). Counselling Psychology and Under-Represented Groups: A Vision for Advocacy as Mutual Transformation. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 54(4), 678–684. https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v54i4.70673