Social Location & Counsellor Identity: a reflexive analysis of social power and the therapeutic use of self
Abstract
It has become widely appreciated that health and mental health are impacted by interconnected systems of inequity and individual social location. With demand for psychological services increasing in Canada, there does exist a need to better understand how social location relates to counselling. A random sample of 19 CCPA registered Canadian Counsellors were interviewed and asked about their social location. Participant responses were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed using the Six-Phase Model for Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022). One theme and two sub-themes were carved out: Participant Asset Experiences (25), Self-Identification (15), and Blind Spots (10). Findings relate to intersectionality and its relevance to counsellor identity. In conclusion, Canadian Counsellors who experience social power and privilege can turn an intersectionality informed lens inward to better understand how their social location impacts their counselling and therapeutic use of self.