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Utilizing an ecological framework to integrate social identities and sociopolitical analysis in psychotherapy
Author(s) -
LiVecchi Pamela,
Obasaju Mayowa
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22606
Subject(s) - privilege (computing) , psychology , psychological intervention , psychotherapist , politics , power (physics) , anxiety , relation (database) , social psychology , psychiatry , political science , law , physics , quantum mechanics , database , computer science
This article explores how the political events from the past year have influenced psychotherapeutic sessions with a female adolescent who is Peruvian, undocumented, and initially presented with symptoms of anxiety and a history of trauma. Focusing on this case example and utilizing an ecological framework, this article explores how the social identities of the therapist and their relation to power and privilege impact the therapeutic interventions that were chosen and not chosen. Additionally, there is a review of the benefits of consultation with a colleague of differing social identities and how this form of consultation can influence a clinician's reactions to clients regarding social or political issues, as well as how integrating a sociopolitical analysis is a useful and sometimes necessary addition to the usual work of therapy.