Black Lives Matter: A Call to Action for Counseling Psychology Leaders

Candice Hargons, Della Mosley, Jameca Falconer, Reuben Faloughi, Anneliese Singh, Danelle Stevens-Watkins, Kevin Cokley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

95 Scopus citations

Abstract

Police brutality and widespread systemic racism represent historical and current sources of trauma in Black communities. Both the Black Lives Matter movement and counseling psychology propose to confront these realities at multiple levels. Black Lives Matter seeks to increase awareness about systemic racism and promote resilience among Black people. Counseling psychology states values of multiculturalism, social justice, and advocacy. Executive leadership in counseling psychology may seek to promote racial justice, yet struggle with how to participate in Black Lives Matter movements and address racial discrimination within larger systems spontaneously and consistently. However, counseling psychology trainees and professionals are actively involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, leading the way forward. Through the framework of spontaneity in social movements, this manuscript highlights what counseling psychologists are currently contributing to Black Lives Matter and makes recommendations that build on the opportunity counseling psychologists have for further involvement in the movement.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)873-901
Number of pages29
JournalCounseling Psychologist
Volume45
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Division of Counseling Psychology of the American Psychological Association.

Keywords

  • Black Lives Matter
  • activism
  • counseling psychology
  • social justice
  • spontaneity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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