What are the most effective ways to promote social justice in counseling interventions?

Significant investment in understanding one’s own identity is key to be able to promote identity awareness in others. It helps reflect against a backdrop. Instead of passively seeking lectures and workshops, take the time to engage in dialogue with those different from you. Observe behaviours, nuances. Listen to their stories deeply. Observe what is important to them, what holds value.

To promote social justice, a multicultural perspective isn't enough. You need to be actively antiracist, anti-oppression, and de-colonial in your approach - which includes the tools and resources you use with clients. When I was a career counseling client, the worksheets and analysis I received were all made within a white, Western corporate culture. As audre lorde said, "Master's tools will never dismantle master's house." I've been creating my own worksheets for clients because nothing exists that takes family of origin, race, ethnicity, gender, etc. into consideration. You may wish to apply your un-learning and learning to customize your tools to each client's identities and lived experience.

It is also important to use vocational psychology theories when conceptualizing clients that allow for their multicultural identity to be appreciated. For example, many of the early career development/vocational psychology theories (e.g. Holland) adhere to a trait-and-factor approach, and this has been critiqued as a limited way to understand an individual. In present day, we have more post-modern, narrative-based theories (e.g. career construction theory) that allow the client to share their career journey, and this makes space for intersectional things like race, gender, upbringing, age, etc. to be shared and included as a part of the career counseling process. This is considered a more multicultural, holistic way to work with clients.

A healthy balance between advocating for space and holding space so clients can advocate for themselves is critical. It’s easy to get sucked into advocacy because it may seem far more time consuming to impart skills that allow clients to advocate for themselves. But it truly is that self-advocacy that facilitates them reclaiming their agency, build new strategies to do so, and thereby foster resilience.

These are great tips, and specific actionable items include knowing the labor laws to help educate clients (e.g. laws on discrimination and disability in the workplace), helping to prepare underrepresented groups to pursue non-traditional career paths (e.g. women in engineering, men in nursing), and including sliding scale or pro bono options in your practice to accommodate for those who need career counseling but can’t afford it. And, as the prompt mentioned, it is crucial that we as career counselors activity advocate to break down barriers and fight stigma related to work for our clients.

All great stuff! I would also add that it is important to know our clients and not push them into social action if they do not want to do so. Some clients come to career counseling and are not ready to take on social action and advocacy. They simply want a place to unpack the inequities and frustrations they have experienced. If that’s where they are, then we as counselors happily meet them there. It is then up to us as counselors to do the advocacy work on behalf of all our underrepresented clientele.

Learn more about the cultural beliefs and practices of your clients and what these mean to them. Create safe spaces for critical engagement about the beneficial and "oppressive" aspects of these and what your clients think these can be challenged and changed for the better. Give minority groups a chance to also participate and contribute. It is important.

In my experience, what has been mentioned above and reading have been essential in my multicultural and advocacy growth. Books that have majorly impacted me in this area have been Caste, Critical Race Theory, White Fragility, the Dark Side of the Street, and a Different Mirror.

When I was laid off and received career counseling, it was all focused on looking for a new job. There was no support for the traumatic experience of a mass layoff and the gaslighting that accompanied it, especially as a racialized woman. As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, I recognize the importance of trauma-informed care, even (or especially) in a "business" setting. And if your client has experienced social INjustice, that in itself can be traumatizing. I always take an intersectional approach by integrating social justice, mental health, and work/life - because you can't separate those things, no matter what capitalism says.