Reflecting on Growth

Even though many counseling programs often pride themselves on issues of diversity and social justice - the profession is dominated by White women. As a white womxn, it is my job to realize and process the privilege I have not only in society but also within my chosen career. Something I had to realize early on was many people of color may not want me as their counselor and that is completely okay and understandable. Not because I am a bad person or because I am not doing good work - but simply because they may feel more comfortable seeing someone who understands their experience without having to explain.

In an article written by Christine Hutchinson titled "How do White Female Therapists Address Racism?" she quotes one of her colleagues (who identifies as a Black womxn),

“When People of Color want to discuss how race effects their lives negatively, they can tend to want to seek out a therapist of Color because there is this idea of shared experiences, and not having to go into a backstory before beginning whatever the topic is they want to discuss.” Hutchinson goes on to discuss the fact that for many clients of color, race is a topic that is often brought up in therapy early on and her colleague also stated that "each one has been coming in with heavy, weary, and angry souls due to state of the world". Hutchinson began to question even more - how do we address race with our white clients? - or better yet why do we avoid it?

Sometimes, white counselors haven't done their own work in recognizing and addressing their unconscious biases, their role in systematic oppression of marginalized folks, and their own perpetuation of white supremacy. Personally, as I have begun to unpack these topics for myself I felt an overwhelming sense of shame and guilt about all the growing I needed to do - and how I had been so unaware of so many things. I am hard on myself in general, and to be honest, I went through a period of mourning. This old version of myself was dying, it was time for a rebirth. I still have a lot more room for growth - I think if we ever stop reaching for growth we stop living.

Overall, I feel as I have come out on the other side realizing how deep white supremacy goes and how difficult it can be to rewrite old scripts and question why we act and speak a certain way. I have also learned to accept that a person of color may or may not feel comfortable with me initially - and it is my job to become more aware of what I can do to become a culturally competent counselor in order to work more effectively with marginalized youth. I believe that "In any case, when working as a multiculturally competent counselor, it is critical to note that all counseling approaches ascribe to a specific worldview. These world-views may alternatively be liberating to some and oppressive to others" (Hays & Erford, 2018).

According to the Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series (2014), in order, "to provide culturally responsive evaluation and treatment planning, counselors and programs must understand and incorporate relevant cultural factors into the process while avoiding a stereotypical or “one-size-fits-all” approach to treatment." I think is crucial to keep in mind when working with folks from all different cultures and backgrounds. We cannot assume that every any person has the same needs or experiences as another - but we can be educated on culturally similarities and/or customs in order to provide competent care.

Additionally, as a counselor I think it is important to not be afraid to talk about race, culture, sexual orientation, identity, etc. Any topic that is effecting the client should be addressed. Specifically, when reading an article by Chaya Babu titled "Why I Left My White Therapist" (2017) she states that her therapist took over a year and a half to name "her whiteness on her own" even after Babu had "frequently bringing up race and racism" during sessions. Babu was frustrated with her therapist and felt as though she didn't understand Babu's experience. After the therapist asked a question about race, Babu was hopeful - she even wrote a letter explaining how she had felt uncomfortable for quite sometime.

"It detailed why discussing race-related topics was anxiety-inducing, and that often, talking about race with her felt unsafe because of my experience living in a brown body in a white world. It rouses my impulse to make sure she's not uncomfortable as well, making it tough for us to really go there" (Babu, 2017).

After she read the letter, her therapist smiled and complimented her - but the next session the therapist became defensive and began to pathologize her experience. Babu stated, "She was hostile, combative, and blaming. She spun circular arguments around straightforward issues and aggressively offered contrarian viewpoints to events I recounted" (2017). Babu realized she was reliving her past trauma with white folks and replaying it with her therapist - she didn't see her again after that.

This article really spoke to me because it goes beyond "cultural competency" and discusses what a therapy session could look like - when the therapist doesn't ask questions or isn't open to asking questions about race and/or isn't ready to hear the real answers. Babu goes on to interview Erica Woodward, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of the National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network. Woodward, "explains that the majority of clinicians lack a racial analysis beyond the concept of "cultural competency," which still centers whiteness. "To not have a deep understanding of white supremacy, period, and then to be doing clinical work and not understanding how that plays out [in therapy] is really damaging" (Babu, 2017).

The mental health field was not set up to serve people of color and it often oppresses counselors and therapists of color within the system - and counselors of color are typically, "more equipped [to work with clients of color] by virtue of being able to identify with the reality of those clients" (Babu, 2017). Additionally, the system that exists to diagnose individuals often, "pathologizes and dehumanizes instead of affirming and healing" (Babu, 2017) - especially at the cost of folks of color who are often much more affected by a mental health diagnosis and are often over-diagnosed.

There are so many factors to consider when working with and serving clients from marginalized communities and it is not a job to be taken lightly or to be self-serving. However, it is more than reading articles or learning about different cultures in our grad programs. As a white person, especially, it takes real dedication to opening yourself up to being uncomfortable, opening yourself up to criticism and opportunities for growth. As a future Licensed professional clinical counselor, I will be working to diagnose clients. I need to be aware of the systems that are in place to further oppress marginalized groups through diagnoses and how I can be a part of a solution and not adding to the ever growing problem. Hays & Eford (2018) ask us to think, "might culturally sensitive and feminist diagnosis require mental health professionals to diagnose and act to change oppressive systems, instead of confining themselves to their offices where they require clients to change?" It is questions like these that help us navigate and always try to focus on what is best for the client.

References:

Babu, C. (2017, January 18). Why I left my white therapist. Retrieved from https://tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/d7pa5j/why-i-left-my-white-therapist

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Improving Cultural Competence. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2014. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 59.) 3, Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Treatment Planning. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK248423/

Hutchinson, C. (2016, August 10). How do white female therapists address racism? Retrieved from http://www.psychedinsanfrancisco.com/white-female-therapists-address-racism/

Hays, D. G., & In Erford, B. T. (2018). Developing multicultural counseling competence: A systems approach (3rd ed.).