Enactments of racial microaggression in everyday therapeutic encounters

Lee, Eunjung; Tsang, A. Ka Tat; Bogo, Marion; Johnstone, Marjorie; Herschman, Jessica

doi:10.1080/00377317.2018.1476646

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Rather, the therapist maintained an inflated epistemic stance (K+) and further demanded explanation of her testimony. Lee et al (2018) analyzed how the therapist discursively challenged the client deploying tentative verbs and lexical choices. For example, with much hesitation (Line 66: She's : : : I don't know like, I don't know), the client says, "she's racist" and "known in the office."…”

Section: Microskills Of Broaching and Bridgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to therapist self-disclosure literature, this is beneficial to the therapy process and outcomes (Gelso & Palma, 2011; Peterson, 2002). However, Lee et al (2018) interpreted this therapist self-disclosure as the inadvertent therapist self-disclosure that occurs in “the contexts of transference–countertransference” (Constantine & Kwan, 2003, p. 584), committing a racial microaggression.It is plausible that her own racial and cultural buttons are pushed (since her membership as Jewish is also unjustly stereotyped here) and subsequently the therapist enacts her countertransference: the therapist presents herself as a “special case” denying her racial biases (Perez Foster, 1998), alluding “I am not like your supervisor.” Also, the therapist notes that she did not see race in the client and shares an alternate impression of her instead: “I look at you as just a really talented person,” which clearly illustrates “colorblindness.” Further, the therapist acknowledges the client’s individual merits only (i.e., myth of meritocracy) while ignoring the institutional racism and discrimination the client experienced and shared with the therapist (p. 17).…”

Section: Microskills In Broaching and Bridgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), it is important to use “I” statements and not impose assumptions on the client’s experiences (Gelso & Palma, 2011; Knox & Hill, 2003; Lee, 2014). We should explicitly name discrimination and oppression in order to have transparent conversations about cultural contextual aspects (Lee et al, 2018). In the case of Maria in Table 1, what if the therapist acknowledged the pervasive racism in society and validated the client’s experience of racism and discrimination in her workplace, rather than questioning the client’s experience and claiming the therapist herself as a “special case” and denying her internalized racism?…”

Section: Microskills In Broaching and Bridgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Microskills of broaching and bridging in cross-cultural psychotherapy: Locating therapy skills in the epistemic domain toward fostering epistemic justice.

Lee¹,

Greenblatt²,

Hu³

et al. 2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Psychotherapy research has shown evidence of positive impacts of broaching cultural differences on the therapy process and outcomes. This increasing body of research also highlights a need to clarify clinical skills of broaching and subsequent bridging to guide therapists in crosscultural psychotherapy. In articulating microskills to promote broaching and bridging, we critically reflect on cautions against slipping into a technocratic approach that is a mechanical prescriptive skill-based guideline. Using critical theory on epistemic injustice, we examine how to integrate cultural aspects into therapy conversations that are aligned with epistemic and social justice. Drawing from sociolinguistic and critical scholars on language and power, we interrogate epistemic domains of knowledge and power during broaching and bridging in everyday clinical talks. We focus on theorizing and illustrating "how-to-do" broaching and bridging to guide therapists in everyday cross-cultural encounters with selected microskills such as a therapist's self-disclosure, cultural immediacy, and reflective listening. Using case illustrations with detailed transcripts for each skill, we interrogate how a client's epistemic status can be managed in the moment-to-moment conversation between a client and therapist in the continuum from dismissing to deepening the client's experience. A series of detailed case illustrations are intended to guide therapists' self-reflection and/or train therapists toward meaningful cross-cultural work. Lastly, we discuss the implications of broaching and bridging while situating this work as promoting epistemic justice in cross-cultural therapy encounters. Public Policy Relevance StatementIn working with individuals who come from different cultural experiences from their therapists, it is critical for therapists to acknowledge the presence of cultural similarities and differences and the workings of power within the therapy dyads. This means understanding how systemic oppression influences a client's experience; explicitly broaching and bridging any differences and potential misunderstanding; and including the impacts of systemic oppression as part of the therapeutic conversations, which may contribute to building the therapeutic alliance with the client. This broaching and bridging process, however, is more complicated than it appears because of the tacit nature of culture and power that is in motion during cross-cultural encounters. Paying attention to territories of knowledge and power (i.e., epistemic domains) in everyday therapeutic interactions, this article details microskills in broaching and bridging such as a therapist's self-disclosure, cultural immediacy, and reflective listening to guide therapists in health and social services toward achieving epistemic and social justice. aaa This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly

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Section: Microskills Of Broaching and Bridgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microskills In Broaching and Bridgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microskills In Broaching and Bridgingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Microskills of broaching and bridging in cross-cultural psychotherapy: Locating therapy skills in the epistemic domain toward fostering epistemic justice.

Lee¹,

Greenblatt²,

Hu³

et al. 2022

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although a number of PPR studies might include social workers in their study samples along with other professionals, PPR appears to be a research paradigm primarily employed by psychologists and psychiatrists. With a few exceptions, such as studies on cross-cultural engagement (Tsang et al 2011 ; Lee and Horvath 2013 , 2014 ), racial microaggression (Lee et al 2018 ) and whiteness (Lee and Bhuyan 2013 ), social work researchers seem to rarely engage in PPR. This is likely due to reasons such as broad scopes of social work practice (i.e., services beyond outpatient therapy), and ethical concerns around the vulnerabilities of social work clients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Simulation as an Investigative Methodology in Researching Competencies of Clinical Social Work Practice: A Scoping Review

et al. 2020

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This article reports a scoping review designed to synthesize current literature that used simulation as an investigative methodology (simulation-based research; SBR) in researching practice competencies in clinical social work. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, 24 articles were included in this scoping review. The majority of articles reported SBR studies conducted in Canada and the U.S. and were published in the last 10 years, signifying that this is a burgeoning area of research in clinical social work. Areas of clinical competencies included professional decision-making (33%), the role of cognition and emotion (21%), attending to culture and diversity (21%), and others, such as supervision skills (8%). Using qualitative (46%), quantitative (42%), and mixed methods (13%) in research design, more than half of the SBR studies reported in the selected articles used live actors (54%) to simulate a realistic practice situation for research. Selected articles also offered both benefits and limitations of SBR in social work. We offer suggestions for when to use SBR for research on clinical social work practice and strengthening a collaboration between clinicians and researchers in advancing practice-informed research.

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“…Such actions may constitute microaggressions, or subtle acts of prejudice or discrimination based on an aspect of an individual's perceived identity (Sue et al, 2007). Negative associations of certain types of microaggressions with psychotherapy processes and outcomes have been documented previously (e.g., Lee et al, 2018;Owen et al, 2010). However, the nature and impact of microaggressions related to religious identity (i.e., religious microaggressions) in psychotherapy is unknown.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious microaggressions in psychotherapy: A mixed methods examination of client perspectives.

Trusty¹,

Swift²,

Black³

et al. 2022

Psychotherapy

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Ethical guidelines state that psychologists should consider clients' religion in their practice. However, some clients have reported negative experiences regarding clinicians' treatment of religion in psychotherapy. These experiences may constitute microaggressions, which have been negatively associated with the working alliance and treatment outcomes among clients with various identities (e.g., those of marginalized racial groups or sexual orientations). The present study used mixed methods to examine religious microaggressions among current and former psychotherapy clients identifying as religious (N = 396). Approximately 39% of participants indicated that at least one religious microaggression occurred during treatment; the most common was minimization or avoidance of religious issues. Religious microaggressions were negatively associated with the working alliance and outcomes. Additionally, the working alliance fully mediated the association between religious microaggressions and poorer outcomes. Thematic analysis of qualitative descriptions of religious microaggressions yielded seven themes: minimization/avoidance of religious issues, assumptions of religious homogeneity, pathologizing religion, unhelpful/inappropriate interventions, pressure to embrace religion, prioritization of therapist's religious beliefs, and lack of expertise. Limitations include a retrospective, cross-sectional design and a majority White, female, and Christian sample. These results provide initial evidence that a substantial minority of religious clients may experience religious microaggressions in psychotherapy, which could impede treatment progress via negative effects on the working alliance. As such, clinicians may be able to enhance client outcomes by increasing awareness of religious microaggressions in their work and addressing microaggression-related alliance ruptures openly when they do occur. Implications for training are also discussed. Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: What is the prevalence and nature of religious microaggressions in psychotherapy, and what effects do religious microaggressions have on the working alliance and treatment outcomes? Findings: Slightly over one third of religious clients reported experiencing religious microaggressions in treatment (e.g., minimization of the importance of religious issues), and these were negatively associated with treatment outcomes via the working alliance. Meaning: Religious microaggressions may weaken the working alliance, which could result in poorer treatment outcomes for a substantial minority of religious clients. Next Steps: Longitudinal research with diverse client samples is needed to further clarify the effects of religious microaggressions and to test effective ways to repair microaggression-related alliance ruptures.

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Enactments of racial microaggression in everyday therapeutic encounters

Cited by 18 publications

References 38 publications

Microskills of broaching and bridging in cross-cultural psychotherapy: Locating therapy skills in the epistemic domain toward fostering epistemic justice.

Microskills of broaching and bridging in cross-cultural psychotherapy: Locating therapy skills in the epistemic domain toward fostering epistemic justice.

Using Simulation as an Investigative Methodology in Researching Competencies of Clinical Social Work Practice: A Scoping Review

Religious microaggressions in psychotherapy: A mixed methods examination of client perspectives.

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