Stories from the Field: Integrating Social Justice Awareness and Action into Counselling Practice

Stories from the Field: IntegratingSocial Justice Awareness and Actioninto Counselling Practice Presented by: Jo-Anne Stoltz, Sandra Collins,Nancy Arthur, & Cristelle Audet May 21, 2009Annual CCA Conference (Saskatoon)

Overview • Welcome! • Stories from the field • What do we mean by social justice? • Social justice concepts: Overview • Exercise: Vignettes & debrief • Barriers, challenges and gaps • Next steps

STORIES FROM THE FIELD

What is Social Justice? • What do you think?

Social Justice Concepts Definition/Principles Types/Levels HumanDevelopment SOCIALJUSTICE Power/Privilege Advocacy/Empowerment StructuralViolence

Definition “…full [inclusion] and equal participation of all [members and] groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society in which the distribution of resources [and opportunities] is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure” (Bell, 1997, p.3).

Definition “. . . justice should refer not only to distribution, but also to the institutional conditions necessary for the development and exercise of individual capacities [and human rights] and collective communication and cooperation. Under this conception of justice, injustice refers primarily to two forms of disabling constraints, oppression and domination” (Young, 1990, p.39).

Principles Equity …of resources, rights, and responsibilities Accessibility …to knowledge, power, resources, and services crucial to human development Participation …of all members in decisions that affect quality of life Harmony …in efforts towards establishing the common good

Types/Levels of Social Justice

Power & Privilege Power…exercised by privileged members and underlies much oppression perpetuated in society, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Privilege...systematic and unearned benefits that select groups of persons in society are bestowed based on specific variables, usually the dominant group(s) in society.

Power & Privilege To mitigate inequities arising from oppression, marginalization, and discrimination, you can: …explore the privileged cultural groups that you are a member of and challenge yourself to utilize your privilege to promote social justice. (Lee, 2007)

Power & Privilege …consider how you have oppressed others in the past as well as how you have been oppressed by others by virtue of your group membership …consider how your work may inadvertently support the status quo …be prepared to address social forces that pose as systemic barriers to people’s growth and development (Lee, 2007)

Structural Violence Developed by Johan Galtung (1969) • …the systematic ways in which a regime prevents individuals from achieving their full potential. • …occurs whenever people are disadvantaged by political, legal, economic, or cultural traditions.

Advocacy & Empowerment Social justice work includes: • …empowerment of the individual • …fostering systemic change through active confrontation of injustices and inequalities in society that have traditionally led to the marginalization and discrimination of devalued or minority groups

Advocacy & Empowerment Empowerment Assisting individuals to: • …recognize the impact of social, political, economic, and cultural factors on their development and well-being • …develop new strengths, knowledge, and abilities to the point of self-advocacy (Crethar, Rivera, & Nash, 2008; Lewis, Arnold, House, & Toporek, 2003)

Advocacy & Empowerment Advocacy Acting with or on behalf of an individual to: • …respond to institutional or systemic barriers that impinge upon development and well-being • …proactively challenge the status quo to effect social change (Crethar, Rivera, & Nash, 2008; Lewis, Arnold, House, & Toporek, 2003)

Advocacy & Empowerment (Lewis, Arnold, House, & Toporek, 2003)

Human Development • Human growth and development hinges on access to knowledge, services, resources, and opportunities. • Oppression, discrimination, and marginalization are some of the barriers that critically impede mental health, well-being, quality of life, and sometimes survival. • Social justice practices help restore an individual’s right to exercise their human potential, regardless of the cultural identities that define them.

Human Development “A just society would be one in which the constraints of oppression and domination are eliminated, allowing people from all groups to develop and reach their full human potential” (Young, 1990). “Beyond facilitating personal empowerment of clients, professionals need to…be prepared to address social forces that pose as systemic barriers to people’s growth and development” (Arthur, Collins, McMahon, & Marshall, 2009).

VIGNETTES

Exercise: Vignettes & Debrief • Four vignettes to choose from • Vignettes extend from our “stories” • Choose a vignette you are interested in, curious about… • Form one group for each vignette • 30 minutes to discuss • Use the reflection questions as a guide

Vignettes & Facilitators Victim/Offender Conferencing(Jo-Anne) A Counsellor in Kenya(Cristelle) Hanna’s Career Dilemmas(Nancy) Who Gets to Become a Counsellor in Canada?(Sandra)

BARRIERS, CHALLENGES, GAPS

Barriers, Challenges, Gaps • Lack of time • Lack of financial resources • Lack of professional influence • Lack of training for social justice • Lack of support from colleagues

Barriers, Challenges, Gaps • Fear of challenging the status quo • Lack of supervisor support • Fear of losing agency funding • Risk of job loss • Lack of interest Arthur, Collins, McMahon, & Marshall, 2009

Overcoming Barriers • What helps counsellors to move social justice from concept to practice?

NEXT STEPS

Next Steps • What kinds of supports do counsellors’ need to increase capacity for integrating social justice into counselling work?

Next Steps • How do you view your own roles and responsibilities for social justice? In what areas do you foresee applying some of these concepts?

Next Steps • How does the concept of social justice and social justice practices fit within the field of counselling? • What needs to happen to advance social justice at the level of the profession?

Next Steps • How have your views of social justice changed or evolved through participation in this workshop?

References Arthur, N., Collins, S., McMahon, M., & Marshall, C. (in press). Career practitioners’ views of social justice and barriers for practice. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 8(1). Bell, L. A. (1997). Theoretical foundations for social justice education. In M. Adams, L. A. Bell, & P. Griffin (Eds.), Teaching for diversity and social justice. New York: Routlege. Crethar, H. C., Rivera, E. T., & Nash, S. (2008). In search of common threads: Linking multicultural, feminist, and social justice counseling paradigms. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86(3), 269-278. Lee, C. (2007). The passion of the counsellor: Walking the talk for social justice. Conference of the Association for Cousellor Education and Supervision. Columbus, Ohio. Lewis, J., Arnold, M. S., House, R., & Toporek, R. L. (2002). American Counseling Association Advocacy Competencies. Advocacy Task Force, American Counseling Association. Young, I. M. (1990). Justice and the politics of difference. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Stories from the Field: Integrating Social Justice Awareness and Action into Counselling Practice