PSY76100E - Cultural Seminar: Social Justice Informed Clinical Care

(3 units)

Social justice counseling is defined by Sue and Sue (2015) as an active therapeutic approach that aims to promote equal access and opportunity. Social justice advocates strive to impact social values, structures, policies, and practices that systematically disadvantage marginalized groups and prevent access to resources. There is growing evidence that minority groups experience chronic and stable minority stress that contributes to mental health disparities, and social justice approaches to clinical care aim to acknowledge this phenomenon and provide skills to empower clients. This course will focus on the impact of systemic oppression on various minority groups (e.g., gender minorities, sexual minorities, racial and ethnic minorities), and how to translate this knowledge to inform culturally competent care. The course will incorporate discussion of peer-reviewed articles, active in-class experiential exercises, and case presentations.