Privilege Awareness for Couple and Family Therapists

A Model for Training and Supervision

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to propose a privilege awareness model. This model considers multiple identities of privilege, and answers the following questions: (1) How do supervisors guide clinicians through privilege awareness raising? (2) What role do supervisors play as clinical trainees experience discomfort from this process? And (3) how can clinical faculty and supervisors facilitate privilege awareness with some level of consistency? This model has been adapted from the framework of multicultural education (Ortiz & Rhoads, 2011). The model provides a guide for therapists who may find it difficult to challenge dominant cultural narratives in themselves and in society—narratives perpetuated by cultures of privilege. Research suggests the privilege awareness process influences the therapeutic approach for clinicians in ways that increase multicultural competency in positive ways. This model can aid in the facilitation of that awareness raising.