Multicultural counseling and psychology evolved as a response to the Eurocentrism prevalent in
the Western healing professions and has been used to challenge the Eurocentric patriarchal
and heteronormative constructs commonly embedded in counseling and psychology. Ironically some
of the practices and paradigms commonly associated with multiculturalism reinforce the very
hegemonic practices and paradigms that multicultural counseling and psychology approaches were
created to correct. In Decolonizing Multicultural Counseling through Social Justice counseling
and psychology scholars and practitioners examine this paradox through a social justice lens by
questioning and challenging the infrastructure of dominance in society as well as by
challenging ourselves as practitioners scholars and activists to rethink our commitments. The
authors analyze the ways well-meaning clinicians might marginalize clients and contribute to
structural inequities despite multicultural or cross-cultural training and offer new
frameworks and skills to replace the essentializing and stereotyping practices that are
widespread in the field. By addressing the power imbalances embedded in key areas of
multicultural theory and practice contributors present innovative methods for revising
research paradigms professional education and hands-on practice to reflect a commitment to
equity and social justice. Together the chapters in this book model transformative practice in
the clinic the schools the community and the discipline. Among the topics covered:
Rethinking racial identity development models. Queering multicultural competence in counseling.
Developing a liberatory approach to trauma counseling. Decolonizing psychological practice in
the context of poverty. Utilizing indigenous paradigms in counseling research. Addressing
racism through intersectionality. A mind-opening text for multicultural counseling and
psychology courses as well as other foundational courses in counseling and psychology education
Decolonizing Multicultural Counseling through Social Justice challenges us to let go of
simplistic approaches however well-intended and to embrace a more transformative approach to
counseling and psychology practice and scholarship.
