Seeking Transformation, Finding Exclusion. Queer People of Colour's Experiences of Counsellor Graduate Education

Abstract

Systemic therapy is understood as the practice of connecting systems and structures for its influences on one’s mental health, relationships, community, and overall wellbeing. However, the professional experiences as a clinical supervisor and educator has led to the observation that practitioners are not taught to comfortably name systemic issues, or the relevance of their own lived experiences. There seems to be a discomfort or worry that they should not name experiences such as racism, homophobia and transphobia, and its implications for mental health. This can stem from receiving inadequate preparation in graduate education, and the dominance of colonial practices of objectivity, neutrality and normativity.

Through this paper, it is the hope to decolonise inherent structures of training, education and professional practice, to resist colonial notions of sexuality, gender and racialisation. This article is based on discussions and conversations through a series of Outsider Witness Teams, with eight queer of colour therapists. The intention was to critique and improve mental health practitioner graduate education.

In these conversations, participants shared how they felt challenged to obtain mental health practitioner graduate education to best support queer of colour clients in their communities. Despite presenting as inclusive or social-justice oriented, graduate programs continue to marginalise queer of colour students. mental health practitioner disciplines should review their curricula, with the goal of supporting queer of colour practitioners to work within their own communities, drawing on their cultural knowledge and practices.