9: Action Inside of the Clinical Encounter

In this chapter, the topic of White supremacy as an ethical and clinical issue in counseling is discussed. The vignette is about my own experiences during training. White fragility refers to the emotional responses a person experiences when their racial identity and belief or image of being “good” are threatened. There are ways to approach conversations about White supremacy with lesser and greater effectiveness. Emotional management is necessary to support an intellectual space for understanding and processing difficult feelings throughout the process. This chapter concludes with a five-step process for counselors working with clients on racial issues.

For this vignette, I am reflecting on my experiences at university and how it never occurred to me that I was White despite learning about cultural, class-based, and gender diversity. As my counselor, you could have questions that would help me understand who I am as a White person. The questions at the bottom of the story are some possibilities.