Episode Details

Thalia is a counselor in the UK, and her story serves as an encouragement to others who want to speak out but are afraid of the potential consequences. She spoke with me today about some of her experiences in a counselor training program about 10 years ago.  While the program did provide a good therapy education, it also required counseling students to take part in "diversity" trainings that informed  them that as white people they were oppressors.  The contrast between the Rogerian principles they were learning as counselors and the way they were instructed to understand their own identities was jarring.  Thalia decided she had to speak up, knowing that she risked being the only one do do so.  

Though it took courage to stand up to her instructors, the result for Thalia was positive: she was able to maintain a dialogue and broaden the discussion beyond the ideological orthodoxy presented.  She shares her  story in order to encourage others to continue to try to keep a discussion going when something is not right, even though it can be difficult and intimidating to do so.  Thalia also recommends Critical Therapy Antidote https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/  to prospective counseling clients (and I would add, therapists and counseling students as well) who are looking for a resource for therapy professionals who are dedicated to providing counseling free of Critical Social Justice Theory.