Are there social identities that you share with the neighborhood and the counseling service team?

Chapter Three Case Study

You work for a counseling service in a small multi-service agency in the city or town where you currently work or live. The counseling department works with individuals, families, groups, institutions, and with the communi
Case Study
The agency is located within a mixed-income community (15% higher income, 50% middle income, 35% lower income). The community is populated by white people (65%), Latinx/Hispanic people (10%), black people (10%), South Asian people (7%), indigenous people (1%), Asian people (3%), and multiracial people (4%). The agency is in the process of collecting data about the gender, sexual orientation, and religious identity make-up of the community.

Ten percent of the counseling team identify as persons of color. The group comprises Latinx/Hispanic, black, South Asian, and multiracial people. The majority of the counseling team identifies as white people (90%). Most of the team is middle-income (65%). Other members of the team are higher income (25%) and lower income (10%). Most of the counselors identify as cis-gender women (70%), 20% identify as cis-gender men, and one trans man works as a counselor. The administrative/secretarial staff are mostly people of color (75%), while the management team are mostly white people (93%).

You have been working as a counselor at the agency for two years. Today, you will meet with Sasha. It will be your third meeting. Sasha is a fifteen-year-old, Afghani-white American high school student. Sasha was assigned female at birth. Sasha, who identifies as a transgender person, uses gender-neutral pronouns (they/them/theirs) to describe themself. Sasha’s socioeconomic status is lower-middle income and they attend the local high school, which is academically challenging and well resourced. Sasha performs well academically. You do not know Sasha’s sexual orientation. Sasha’s parents are both straight and cis-gender people. They practice both Islam and Lutheran Christianity. Sasha was referred to the counseling service by their guidance counselor because of recent friendship difficulties. During the sessions, Sasha talks mostly about their love of 1970s era music and their difficulties with math. Sasha has shared they do not feel that their friendships pose a challenge.

Today, Sasha comes to the session, sits down quietly, and stares at their lap. Sasha is typically talkative right at the start of the session. You notice this difference and inquire about Sasha’s day. Sasha looks up and says that they heard two members of the counseling service talking in the bathroom before coming in for the session. The counselors were talking about a well-known author and activist, who is a transgender woman of color. Sasha heard one of the staff members say she could not believe the author was so beautiful and well-spoken for “a man, I mean, a transgender.” The other member of the staff nodded and expressed surprise that the author was engaged to an “attractive, straight man” and then wondered about the author’s sexual orientation. Sasha shares that they feel upset and then asks you what you think about what they heard.

1. Respond to Sasha’s question to you. What are your initial thoughts and feelings about the exchange that Sasha witnessed?

2. List all your social identities that you wish to consider. Once you have listed your social identities, determine if your identities hold traditionally privileged or traditionally marginalized positions in society.

3. Are there social identities that you share with the neighborhood and the counseling service team?

4. How have you been socialized about each of the identities you presented?

5. How might you use feminist theories to understand this case example?

6. Identify and discuss possible examples of internalized, interpersonal, institutional, and structural privilege and oppression in this case example.

7. Discuss the use of language in this case example. Are there examples of microaggressions present?

8. Consider each of the practice recommendations (self-awareness, reflection, empathy, cultural humility, research, intergroup dialogue). How might you use each of these practice skills in your work with Sasha and with your agency?

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