Applying Critical Social Theories to Family Therapy Practice

This volume examines power dynamics and social arrangements in couple and family therapy by bringing together various critical social theories for application in practice. These approaches offer pathways for going beyond multi-cultural competence to social justice frameworks that center analysis of power relative to culture and social location. In particular, this volume bridges the gap between theory and practice by pushing beyond the expectation that therapists will be socially aware to encouraging therapeutic action toward equity. Case examples are included throughout to accentuate the potential application of theory in actual practice.

Teresa McDowell, Ed.D. is a professor of marriage and family therapy and Chair of the Department of Counseling Psychology at Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling in Portland, Oregon, USA. Dr. McDowell has contributed over 25 articles and chapters to professional literature on critical multiculturalism, social class, race and white privilege, gender/sexual orientation, de-colonization and global equity. Critical social theory is threaded throughout her work as a researcher, scholar and family therapy educator.