The Social Justice Practicum in Counseling Psychology Training

• Published in: Training and education in professional psychology 2020-05, Vol.14 (2), p.156-166
• Main Authors: Hage, Sally M, Miles, Joseph R, Lewis, Jioni A, Grzanka, Patrick R, Goodman, Lisa A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advocacy; Counseling Psychology; Counselor Trainees; Graduate Psychology Education; Human; Practicum Supervision; Psychology Education; Social Justice; Training
• ISSN: 1931-3918; 1931-3926
• DOI: 10.1037/tep0000299

A commitment to social justice and diversity are defining principles of the counseling psychology specialty. Practical strategies are needed to prepare future generations of psychologists to engage in social justice work, including systems-level advocacy to transform existing power dynamics and structural inequities. This article provides a framework for conceptualizing social justice practicum (SJP) training in doctoral psychology programs. We also highlight SJP requisite in three different American Psychological Association-accredited counseling psychology doctoral training programs using this framework. In addition, we present considerations and challenges for developing an SJP. Our goal is to offer a systematic way to consider the myriad of barriers and challenges in the development and implementation of an SJP, and to challenge scholars and educators in professional psychology to think critically about the place of social justice in graduate-level training. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges presented in the evaluation of SJP for training and education in psychology, and invite others to join this task in the spirit of Miller's (1969) longstanding ethos of "giving psychology away." Public Significance Statement Professional training in psychology must move beyond preparation for remedial, individual intervention to include macrolevel issues, advocacy, and engagement in the process of social change. Practical strategies for designing and implementing social justice practicum into psychology training are important in benefiting the larger community, addressing issues of systemic injustice, and in educating students in ways that confront rather than perpetuate oppression.