Diversity
Explore the importance of diversity in psychotherapy practice and research. This section covers topics related to cultural competence, inclusivity, and the ways in which diverse perspectives enhance the therapeutic process.
143 articles found
Actionable Steps for Therapists (And All Human Beings) In Response to the Racial Pandemic
We are angry. We are indignant. We are hurt. We are distraught. We are united in pain, frustration, and a want for change. Centuries of cumulative trauma brought on by racial discrimination have spilled over into what we see today in streets across our country. Social media, conversations, articles and op-eds are plentiful. All make […]
Samantha Janvier, M.S. + 1 more
June 2, 2020
A Survey on Chinese Counseling Hotline Services
COVID-19 first outbroke in Wuhan at the very beginning of 2020, and quickly spread across the country, and over the world. WHO made the claim that the outbreak of COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic worldwide on March 11th. With a series of actions implemented as public health emergency interventions by the Chinese government, […]
Yin Cheng, M.A. + 1 more
May 24, 2020
Pandemics, Prejudice, and Power
As panic due to the current coronavirus pandemic runs rampant, another virus has quietly been spreading in its wake: Xenophobia, targeted toward people of Asian descent. Increasingly, reports and videos have surfaced depicting verbal and physical assault of those who appear to be of Asian descent. While we cannot speak directly to the experiences of […]
Bre-Ann Slay, M.A., L.P.C + 4 more
April 26, 2020
Gay in OK
Be a blank slate, but also be an advocate. Wait, no, not like that. In graduate school, we are taught to hopefully become ethical, effective psychological practitioners. That model pretends that psychology exists in a bubble and is not subjected to the outside world’s judgments, prejudice, and ignorance; psychotherapy is often intended to empower people […]
Tye Stephens, MA
April 21, 2020
Working with Clients With Disabilities
Introduction When we, as a profession, consider ways to advance psychotherapy, we must begin by striving for nothing less than fair, accessible, and clinically competent services for all populations—especially those who have historically been underserved and underrepresented. One such population that is frequently overlooked and underappreciated on a global realm are persons with disabilities (PWD), […]
Daniel Balva + 1 more
March 8, 2020
Culturally Competent Psychotherapy for the Asexual Community
What is Asexuality? So that clinicians do not “other” their clients, it is important to know the term that defines the majority of people. That term is allosexuality; this term describes people who experience average sexual attraction and are not asexual (Drincic, 2017). Asexuality is a sexual orientation generally described as those who experience little […]
Jared Boot-Haury, PsyD, MBA, ABPP
November 24, 2019
Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk, Do the Work
Introductions Todd Ryser-Oatman is enrolled in the University of Kentucky Counseling Doctoral Program. His research interests focus on the well-being of the LGBTQ community. His dissertation focuses on help-seeking experiences of sexual minority men who have experienced intimate partner violence in their same-sex relationships. Alyssa Clements-Hickman is also enrolled in the University of Kentucky Counseling […]
Todd Ryser-Oatman, M.S. + 1 more
November 16, 2019
Five Things Therapists Can Do When Working with LGBTQ+ Individuals
What is meant by affectional and gender minorities? Affectional and gender minority clients is a broad umbrella category for individuals who self-identify as LGBTQ+. We can think of this in two broad subcategories: gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender identity Gender identity refers to how someone feels or identifies their gender. It is sometimes congruent […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D. + 1 more
November 16, 2019
The Dangers of “As Quiet As It’s Kept”
“As quiet as it’s kept” is a phrase packed with resiliency, pain, and generational trauma. I first heard this phrase when I was about 5 years old. The phrase lacked a visible impact on my life until my late teens. In my family and other families in the South, I heard this phrase used to […]
Brianca Smith, M.A.
November 12, 2019
Camino Profesional y Persona
There are many considerations that influence the decision to embark on a graduate education, including but not limited to values, career aspirations, family supports, timing, and finances. For students of color, this process often includes additional questions, such as, “Will there be other students who look like me or share similar backgrounds? How inclusive is […]
Elizabeth Rubio, M.A. + 1 more
November 12, 2019
Working with the Cultural Outsider in Psychotherapy
Many people who seek psychotherapy were either brought to the United States when they were young or born here with parents who are often trying to adapt to a new culture and language. Children of immigrants have to navigate being surrounded by peers who look and speak differently, and in many cases, their caretakers rely […]
Dennis Portnoy, MFT
November 10, 2019
Self-care for Psychotherapists of Color
Like other helping professions (e.g., physical health service providers), psychotherapists are expected to serve clients without expecting anything in return (Guy, 2000). Although the helping within psychotherapy is unidirectional, therapy involves a bidirectional flow in which the client and the therapist impact each other (Kottler, 2010). The role of a psychotherapist departs from other helping […]
Manijeh Badiee, Ph.D.
October 30, 2019