Advancing Social Justice Through Clinical Practice

"...many clinicians, having little exposure to the ideas set forth herein, will be surprised, challenged, appalled, and inspired, at times, by the very same idea or proposed clinical intervention. The authors of this volume do an excellent job of challenging and stretching our conception of what it means to do clinical work. This is an important book, one that should be read, taken seriously, and discussed in departments of clinical psychology, social work, nursing, and psychiatry." - Sanford L. Drob, in PsycCritiques"This superb collection brings together some of the most courageous and articulate advocates of social justice in clinical practice from around the world. In doing so, Etiony Aldarondo and his colleagues chart the hopeful trajectory of liberation psychology." - Mary M. Brabeck, PhD, Dean, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University"Aldarondo has assembled a group of clinicians and activists who remind us that individual distress and human suffering are created and compounded by economic, political, legal, cultural and social injustices, and that these cannot be separated from the consulting room. Clinicians serving individuals, families, or communities, regardless of theoretical orientation or clinical approach will find affirmation in keeping social justice central in their practice." - Luis H. Zayas, PhD, Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis"What a courageous and ground-breaking book! It meets a critical need for integrating social justice into mental health. It inspires practitioners and policy makers of all disciplines to go proactively beyond the personal view of problems. The reader comes away with an expanded awareness of the myriad connections between wellness and justice, insights about the dilemmas and new tools to enhance practice." - Celia J. Falicov, PhD, Past-President, American Family Therapy Academy"I plan on including this long overdue text routinely in family therapy courses to promote application of social justice intentions to the actual practice of clinical work. In sum, this is a vital resource for clinicians, supervisors, students, researchers, and educators who strive to study and work with students, individuals, families, and communities in ways that promote a more just society."-Teresa McDowell, EdD, Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, in Journal of Family Psychotherapy, Vol. 19(2) 2008

• Part I: Steps Toward a Social Justice Therapeutic Practice. Rekindling the Reformist Spirit in the Mental Health Professions. Counseling for Wellness and Justice: Foundations and Ethical Dilemmas. Social Justice Concerns and Clinical Practice. Part II: Liberating Visions of Clinical Practice. Radical Psychiatry: An Approach to Personal and Political Change. Ethnopolitical Psychology: Healing and Transformation. Gay and Lesbian Couples in Therapy: A Social Justice Perspective. Risk Reduction and the Micropolitics of Social Justice in Mental Health Care. Foundation Concepts for Social Justice-Based Therapy: Critical Consciousness, Accountability, and Empowerment. Narrative Practice and Culture. Part III: Community Building for Wellness and Justice. Families and Therapists as Citizens: The Families and Democracy Project. The Practice of Community Family Therapy. Applying Feminist Theory to Community Practice: A Multilevel Empowerment Intervention for Low-Income Women with Depression. Toward a Community Psychology of Liberation. Striving for Social Justice Through Interprofessional University-School Collaboration. The Psychology of Working and the Advancement of Social Justice. Mental Health Policy and Social Justice. Part IV: Teaching and Training for Social Action. Advocacy, Outreach, and Prevention: Integrating Social Action Roles in Professional Training. Grounding Clinical Training and Supervision in an Empowerment Model. Applying Principles of Multicultural Competencies, Social Justice, and Leadership in Training and Supervision. Educating for Social Change in the Human Service Professions.