Power, Oppression and the Therapeutic Process (a live on-line discussion)

Dr. Alana Tappin, Psy.D.
Adjunct Faculty of The Wayne Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy


Friday, October 2, 2020 1:00-3:00 p.m. MDT

This discussion looks at the way powerful societal ideologies impact the psychology of the individual therapist and client. The aim is to help therapists increase awareness and understanding of the often unconscious dynamics (Ginot, 2015) of internalized superiority and internalized inferiority that often arise from being socialized by the dominant ideologies.

There is deeply ingrained inequality in American society. This inequality is maintained by the social and economic dominance of some groups at the expense of others (Brown 2019). Each of us, therapists and clients alike, have multiple social identities connected to various cultural groups that are arranged in hierarchies (Brown, 2017). Some of these identities hold more social and/or economic “power over,” and others are oppressed.  The values of this ‘ruling class’ have been embedded into our society and form dominant ideologies that self-perpetuate. Some of these ideologies such as white supremacy, patriarchy, and heterosexism all make up the status quo in this country and are embedded in institutions such as schools, religious organizations, and the judicial system (Myers, 2011).

For more information on the presenter go to
https://www.wayneinstitute.com/faculty.html