Identity, Privilege, Power, and Oppression

Identity, Privilege, Power, and Oppression

Week 3: Identity, Privilege, Power, and Oppression
Identity, Privilege, Power, and Oppression
The identities of individuals often influence the level of power they have and the level of privilege and oppression they experience. For example, individuals whose identities afford them the ability to pay for professional psychology services have the power and the privilege to choose how they improve their emotional well-being; however, underprivileged individuals who are unable to pay out of pocket for professional psychology services might have more limited options. In these examples, the socioeconomic identities of these individuals affect the level of power and privilege they experience. As a psychologist, how might your identity and the levels of privilege, power, and oppression that come with that identity influence your interaction with clients?

For this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resources, including the Microtraining Associates video. Then consider how identity, privilege, power, and oppression might influence professional practice. Finally, think about the challenges that identity, privilege, power, and oppression might present in a therapy session between a client and a therapist from different cultural backgrounds.

With these thoughts in mind:

Write an explanation of how identity, privilege, power, and oppression influence professional practice based on Janet Helms’s explanation in the Microtraining Associates video. Then explain the challenges that identity, privilege, power, and oppression might present in a therapy session between a client and a therapist from different cultural backgrounds.

Reference:

Abrams, E. M., & Todd, N. R. (2011). White dialectics as multidimensional, contextual, and transformational. The Counseling Psychologist, 39(3), 423–437.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Ancis, J. R., & Szymanski, D. M. (2001). Awareness of white privilege among white counseling trainees. The Counseling Psychologist, 29(4), 548–569.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Carter, R. T., Helms, J. E., & Juby, H. L. (2004). The relationship between racism and racial identity for white Americans: A profile analysis. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 32(1), 2–17.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

MEDIA
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012b). Family case study [Interactive media]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: Please click on the following link for the transcript: Transcript (PDF document).

Microtraining Associates (Video Publisher). (2008). A race is a nice thing to have [Video webcast].
Retrieved from the Walden library database.

https://search-alexanderstreet-com.ezp.waldenulibr…

Solution Preview

Power and Privileges in Professional Practice
In as much as professionals go through extensive training to ensure that they are aware enough of various sources of bias in the course of practice, they are vulnerable to human-related influences that could result in differential treatment of different patients.

(345 words)