Diane Estrada

Supervision of Cross-Cultural Couples Therapy: Giving Voice to the Code of Silence in the Supervision and Therapy Room

Abstract This author discusses the importance of actively giving voice in clinical supervision and the therapy room to the code of silence around issues of ethnicity, gender, spirituality, and socioeconomic struggles that plague many cross-cultural couples. The author explores obstacles that collude with dominant oppressive discourses in supervision and therapy and provides suggestions for giving voice to issues of ethnicity, gender, spirituality, and socioeconomic status. The author offers strategies for entering a dialogue of cross-cultural exploration using narrative theory via a supervision case.

Addressing Heterosexist Privilege During Orientation: One Program's Experience

New counseling students often have strong reactions when confronted with the concept of heterosexist privilege, and when expected to address issues of multiculturalism and diversity, personally and professionally. In this program evaluation article, the authors describe a model of new student orientation that focuses on inviting masters-level counseling students to embrace difference, especially regarding sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Aggregate data regarding students’ evaluation of the program are included.

Counselors as Social Advocates

ABSTRACT The authors discuss the importance of social advocacy and empowerment models in working with lesbian clients. They also explore the multiple contexts that impact lesbian clients and their families. A case illustration involving a lesbian client facing issues of internalized homophobia, heterosexism, sexism, and legal issues is presented. Suggestions for applying a feminist and social advocacy approach are offered.

Guatemala—Paradise Lost: The Journey Away from the Land of Eternal Spring

This chapter explores the history, resilience, and colonization of the Maya people in Guatemala. It provides a historical and present context for understanding the difficult choices and journey Maya migrants make away from the land of eternal spring (Guatemala) to the land of promise (the United States). Barriers and supports to successful migration and good mental health are presented.

Training and Supervision Across Disciplines to Engage in Cross-Cultural Competence and Responsiveness: Counseling and Family Therapy

In this chapter, I explore the definitions of cultural competence and responsiveness in the counseling and family therapy fields. I outline professional competencies related to clinical training and supervision of counselors and family therapists in training based on my experience working with students and post-master’s supervisees for over 25 years, as well as my work in the past two decades researching cultural issues in supervision and the therapy room. A review of the education and supervision literature regarding cross-cultural competency will be provided as a launching point into discussions of more process-oriented perspectives in the learning paradigm. In this chapter, I explore the use of active voices in the integration of cultural responsiveness and responsibility in the educator/student and the supervisee/supervisor relationships via literature, case examples, and experiential exercises.

Diversifying Counsellor Education: A Case Study of U.S. Students of Colour.

ABSTRACT Due to limited research on the experiences of students of colour in counselling programmes, counsellor educators are ill-equipped to implement strategies to promote the graduation of students of colour. In this case study, we explored the protective and risk factors for students of colour enrolled in a counselling programme in the Western U.S. Participants identified three protective factors (diversity, faculty support, and family and friends) and three risk factors (balancing family and school, disconnect from programme, and White dominance) that impacted their post-graduate experience. Implications for the retention of students of colour are discussed.