Counseling Psychology Trainees' Experiences With Difficult Diversity Dialogues in Practice

• In Event: Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Applications of Counseling Psychology in Practice

Abstract

This qualitative study explored advanced counseling psychology doctoral trainees’ experiences with difficult diversity dialogues in their individual supervised counseling practice. Participants were 12 doctoral students enrolled in APA-accredited programs in New York and New Jersey. They participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed according to grounded theory methodology. Eight major themes emerged from the data: (a) subjective experience of multicultural competence, (b) navigating self-disclosure, (c) exploring power and privilege in the therapeutic space, (d) responses to difficult cultural moments, (e) reflections upon when participants did not have difficult diversity dialogues, (f) reflections upon multicultural training, (g) perceptions of the supervisory space, and (h) intersectionality: visible and invisible identities. The results have implications for multicultural training and supervision in counseling.

Authors

• Chelsea Atlas, Fordham University

• Margo A. Jackson, Fordham University