| In recent years, the call for a more socially responsible practice has reached the field of professional psychology. Critical stances towards psychology, including multicultural, feminist, and social justice perspectives, have illuminated some of the profession's most grave shortcomings. Placing clinical psychology within its socio-historical context, it becomes clear that through the process of socialization within an individualistic ideology, psychology has traditionally overemphasized its understanding of human wellness and dysfunction at the level of personal, or individual functioning. While these conceptualizations, and related individualistic interventions, have provided a great deal of help to many individuals, professional psychology has underachieved in its ability to have a meaningful impact on broader levels of human wellness. Even more concerning is how the field has, wittingly and/or unwittingly, perpetuated a problematic and oppressive status quo under which many marginalized and oppressed populations continue to suffer through limited access to resources. Critical psychology suggests that we can do better. This research project serves as a call to action in the training of emerging psychologists. Using an effectiveness-based approach to program development, a training seminar for predoctoral psychology interns was designed to develop interns' self-awareness, knowledge, and skills related to the competencies of social justice work in psychology. Interns experience first-hand the intellectual, affective, and volitional dimensions of social justice, and are trained to intervene more effectively at personal, relational, and collective levels of human functioning. Ultimately, this program is meant to assist professional psychology in training practitioners who are committed to social justice action, thereby meeting the field's potential for creating a more socially just world. |
