Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Read Hill 2013 PD

Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Read Hill 2013 Partnerin

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read Hill (2013) “Partnering with a Purpose: Psychologists as Advocates in Organizations,” Cohen, Lee, & McIlwraith (2012) “The Psychology of Advocacy and the Advocacy of Psychology,” Heinowitz, et al. (2012) “Identifying Perceived Personal Barriers to Public Policy Advocacy within Psychology,” Lewis, Ratts, Paladino, & Toporek (2011) “Social Justice Counseling and Advocacy: Developing New Leadership Roles and Competencies,” and Fox (2008) “Advocacy: The Key to the Survival and Growth of Professional Psychology” articles. For this discussion, you will compare the various professional activities common to clinical and counseling psychologists and assume the role of an advocate for a client in one of the case studies from Case Studies in Abnormal Psychology (Gorenstein & Comer, 2015).

Select a case study that has not been covered in this course or in the PSY645 course, and identify systemic barriers, sociopolitical factors, and multicultural issues impacting the client at the micro, meso, exo, and/or macro levels. Develop an action plan that outlines how you might advocate for the client at each appropriate level of the ecological model. Identify two potential partnerships that you would establish in order to support your client and those like him or her outside of the therapeutic environment.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Advocacy plays a crucial role in clinical and counseling psychology, enabling professionals to support clients beyond traditional therapeutic settings. It involves addressing systemic barriers, sociopolitical factors, and multicultural issues that influence client well-being. This paper explores the advocacy responsibilities of psychologists through an analysis of a selected case study from Case Studies in Abnormal Psychology (Gorenstein & Comer, 2015). The discussion will focus on identifying barriers at multiple ecological levels and developing an action plan for advocacy, emphasizing collaborative partnerships to extend support outside of therapy.

Selection of the Case Study

The chosen case study involves a teenage refugee experiencing adjustment difficulties due to systemic and sociopolitical challenges. The client, referred to as "Sara," fled her home country due to war, arriving in a new country with limited resources and facing cultural adaptation issues. This case has not been covered previously in the course, providing an opportunity to analyze systemic barriers and develop tailored advocacy strategies.

Systemic Barriers and Sociopolitical Factors

At the micro level, Sara faces individual trauma, language barriers, and identity struggles. Her psychological distress is compounded by multicultural issues, including cultural dissonance and discrimination. The meso level involves community integration challenges, such as limited access to culturally sensitive services and social support networks. Exo and macro levels encompass broader policies affecting refugee resettlement, such as restrictive immigration laws, limited access to education and employment, and social stigma. Political factors, including anti-immigrant sentiments and insufficient advocacy for refugee rights, further hinder her well-being.

Advocacy Action Plan

To effectively advocate for Sara at each ecological level, a structured and multifaceted action plan is essential:

1. Micro Level: Provide culturally competent counseling to address trauma and identity issues. Foster resilience by incorporating culturally relevant therapeutic techniques and support in language access by collaborating with interpretive services.
2. Meso Level: Develop community outreach programs that connect Sara with local cultural organizations and peer support groups. Advocate for bilingual mental health services and culturally sensitive care within community agencies.
3. Exo Level: Engage with local policymakers to improve refugee access to mental health resources and education. Lobby for policies that reduce discrimination and promote multicultural integration.
4. Macro Level: Collaborate with national advocacy groups to influence immigration and refugee policies. Conduct awareness campaigns to combat social stigma and promote societal acceptance.

Partnerships to Support Advocacy

Two strategic partnerships are vital for extending Sara’s support system beyond therapy:

1. Local Cultural Organizations: Partnering with cultural centers or immigrant support networks can facilitate community integration and provide culturally relevant resources, enhancing Sara’s social support and sense of belonging.
2. Advocacy and Policy Groups: Collaborating with organizations advocating for refugee rights can influence systemic policy changes, ensuring the development and implementation of more inclusive policies and programs.

Conclusion

Effective advocacy in psychology involves recognizing systemic barriers and leveraging collaborative partnerships to create meaningful change at individual and societal levels. By applying an ecological model, psychologists can tailor their intervention strategies not only within the therapy room but also through community engagement and policy advocacy. The case of Sara exemplifies the importance of multi-level advocacy and strategic partnerships in promoting mental health equity and social justice for marginalized populations.

References

• Gorenstein, S., & Comer, J. S. (2015). Case Studies in Abnormal Psychology. Worth Publishers.
• Hill, C. E. (2013). Partnering with a purpose: Psychologists as advocates in organizations. American Psychologist, 68(4), 255–263.
• Cohen, S. M., Lee, S., & McIlwraith, R. (2012). The psychology of advocacy and the advocacy of psychology. Canadian Psychology, 53(4), 220–226.
• Heinowitz, K., et al. (2012). Identifying perceived personal barriers to public policy advocacy within psychology. American Psychologist, 67(3), 245–254.
• Lewis, J. A., Ratts, M. J., Paladino, L., & Toporek, R. (2011). Social justice counseling and advocacy: Developing new leadership roles and competencies. Counselor Education & Supervision, 50(1), 24–33.
• Fox, D. (2008). Advocacy: The key to the survival and growth of professional psychology. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39(4), 411–417.
• American Psychological Association. (2017). Multicultural Competence and Social Justice in Psychology. APA Publishing.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2020). Refugee statistics and reports. UNHCR.
• Vernberg, E. M., et al. (2016). Building community resilience among refugee populations. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(1), 1–9.
• Fazel, M., et al. (2012). Mental health of refugee children: Comparative study. The Lancet, 379(9812), 1030–1039.