Critical Social Inquiry 0226 - Race & Identity in Psychological Counseling & Mental Health

This course introduces the role of political and sociocultural factors in appropriate, effective and ethical counseling, and in mental health more broadly. This is a theoretical, practical and experiential course that will focus on expanding awareness of your own values and biases; developing critical thinking and awareness of differing experiences and worldviews; and increasing your sensitivity to how sociocultural identities influence prospective clients and others. The focus of the course is on people as social beings with a range of intersecting identities that can deeply shape their mental health and prospective therapeutic relationships. The course concentrates on factors such as race, gender, class, sexual identity, religion, and (dis)ability, and engages with topics like institutional violence, discrimination, power, oppression, and socialization. Students will produce an autobiographical term-paper scaffolded throughout the semester, as well as a final project and smaller weekly assignments. Keywords:Race, gender, power, psychology, mental health

In/Justice Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time