Social Justice Counseling: Toward the Development of a Fifth Force Among Counseling Paradigms

Abstract

A case is made to consider social justice as a fifth force complementary to the psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, existential‐humanistic, and multicultural forces in counseling. This article explores how social justice is shifting the counseling paradigm and how the ACA (American Counseling Association) Advocacy Competencies (J. A. Lewis, M. S. Arnold, R. House, & R. L. Toporek, 2002) complement this movement. Implications are also discussed.

Moving Beyond CACREP Standards: Training Counselors to Work Competently with LGBT Clients

“…Counselors were encouraged to consider the importance of cultural and sociopolitical factors when conceptualizing and treating the concerns of clients (Lewis, Ratts, Paladino, & Toporek, 2011;. Social justice counseling as a counseling theory was anchored in advocacy work (Ratts, 2009). Specifically, this fifth force of counseling required that the professional identity of counselors include that of advocate and vocal, active agent of change (Ratts, 2009).…”

“…Social justice counseling as a counseling theory was anchored in advocacy work (Ratts, 2009). Specifically, this fifth force of counseling required that the professional identity of counselors include that of advocate and vocal, active agent of change (Ratts, 2009). Social justice counselors are expected to disrupt the status quo in society and dismantle systems that keep their clients oppressed and thus negatively influence psychological well-being.…”

Developing Social Justice Leaders Through Chi Sigma Iota: A Phenomenological Exploration of Chapter Faculty Advisor Experiences, Part 2

“…Results from this phenomenological inquiry are divided into a two-part series in order to give voice to the unique positions held by these distinct groups of participants. Please refer to Part 1 for a comprehensive literature review of social justice (Lee, 2012;Ratts, 2009) and leadership development in the counseling profession (Sweeney, 2012;Black & Magnuson, 2005;Meany-Walen et al, 2013), in addition to a complete overview of the qualitative methodology and the results from the perspective of CLs.…”

Internationalization of the Counseling Profession and International Counseling Students

“…Multiculturalism was argued to be the fourth force in counseling in the early 1990s (Pedersen 1991) and social justice advocacy is perhaps emerging as the fifth (Ratts 2009). It is my opinion that internationalization may well develop as a sixth force that propels the growth of professional counseling in every nation to be a legitimate profession among other mental health professions.…”