White Privilege and Psychotherapy
A workshop across 3 evenings direct from Colorado USA
offered online and internationally via zoom
Wed 1 & Thur 2 MAR 2023 – 9.00am to 12.30pm each day (3 hours with breaks)
Thur 16 Mar: follow-up & de-brief – 9.00am to 11.00am (2 hours)
Introduction
” White privilege is a pervasive reality that extends throughout the world, in part due the extensive history of colonisation. Because of this pervasiveness, white privilege impacts the lived experienced of everyone – both white individuals and people of colour. Psychotherapy can help us move toward a more just and equitable world. However, to do so, it is important for therapists to be aware of the way that white privilege is embedded in various social systems and how it impacts clients and their mental health. This workshop prepares therapists to work more effectively with clients experiencing the impact of white privilege.”
Louis Hoffman, PhD
Workshop Overview
In this workshop, Louis will begin by describing what white privilege is and how it is relevant to our clients and the psychotherapy process. He will introduce the concept of privilege along with many related topics. Louis will provide a theoretical overview of white privilege before considering research on the topic. The scholarship and practice of Frantz Fanon, Theopia Jackson, Nathaniel Granger, Derald Wing Sue and others will be considered.
Next, Louis will guide you through an exploration of the intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of white privilege. This will encompass facilitating you to engage in self-exploration, including how you are impacted by white privilege and how you may unintentionally contribute to or participate in white privilege. Finally, Louis will explore with you how to work with the reality of white privilege in the therapy room. This will include case examples to help illustrate how you can become more effective in your practice both with white clients and clients of colour. Particular consideration will be given to cultural humility, which serves as a foundation for ethical and culturally sensitive therapy practice.
Given the evocative and personal nature of the topic, we will reconvene 2 weeks after conclusion of the theory and applications portion of the workshop to debrief and process the material.
What we will consider:
Day 1: Introduction and Theory Foundations
- What is privilege and why is it relevant for psychotherapy?
- Types of privilege
- Essential terminology
- Resistance to white privilege
Day 2: Applications
- The intrapersonal world and white privilege
- The interpersonal world and white privilege
- White privilege and anti-racism
- Working with white privilege in psychotherapy
Day 3: Debriefing
- The impact of white privilege
- Working through resistance/self-protections
Who Should attend:
Psychotherapists and counsellors who practice – or want to practice – in a culturally sensitive manner. This is not just relevant to individuals who work with diverse clients – white privilege impacts everyone. In the workshop, we will consider strategies for deepening our awareness of biases and prejudices we may hold, including how to recognise and work with these.
The Details
Dates: Wed 1 & Thur 2 MARCH 2023 – 9.00am to 12.30pm AEDT (short breaks will be accommodated) and Thur 16 MARCH 2023 – 9.00am to 11.00am AEDT
Location: online via zoom (registrants will receive an invitation to participate and all the details they require in advance of the date)
Cost: $450.00 (flat rate)
CPD Hours: 8
Louis Hoffman, PhD is a clinical psychologist in practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Humanistic Counseling and Psychological Association, an author and an independent scholar. Louis’ areas of specialisation and interest include existential therapy, religious and spiritual issues in therapy, theoretical and philosophical issues in therapy, diversity issues, and international psychology. He has also been active in professional writing and presenting at professional conferences. Books that he has co-authored/edited include Existential Psychotherapy East-West, Spirituality and Psychological Health, Brilliant Sanity: Buddhist Approaches to Psychotherapy, and The God Image Handbook for Spiritual Counseling and Psychotherapy. Louis serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, The Humanistic Psychologist, and Janus Head.