Are Training Programs Addressing Anti-Black Racism and White Supremacy? A Descriptive Analysis

Counseling psychology increasingly centers addressing and dismantling anti-Black racism and White supremacy among its values. It is unclear, however, whether training programs are attending to antiracist paradigm shifts. We conducted a study of counseling psychology programs' attention to antiracism and White supremacy. Students and faculty in counseling psychology programs were asked to complete an online survey. Faculty were also asked to submit multicultural course syllabi. Qualitative results demonstrate that syllabi (N = 29) generally do not reflect modern antiracist paradigms. Both faculty and student participants (N = 179) rate their programs as above-average on social justice and antiracism commitments, social justice program norms, and multicultural training, but students (n = 127) observed greater discrepancies between what their programs claim to do and what their programs actually do; and, faculty (n = 52) rate their programs more positively than students. There also appeared to be individual-level differences in ethnic-racial identity, such that White students were more critical of Whiteness.

Automated summary

This study examines the attention that counseling psychology programs pay to antiracism and White supremacy. The findings reveal a lack of reflection of modern antiracist paradigms in course syllabi. Faculty members rate their programs more positively than students, and there are differences in the perception of Whiteness among White students.