"Building a Sane Society and Transforming Psychology and Mental Health-Care"

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Janet Helms is right - an action-oriented approach to revolutionary changes in the fields of counseling and psychology - building a beloved community

Aloha Everyone:

Two points were emphasized at the July 28th meeting in Hawaii.  The first point underscored the need to increase efforts to implement the APA Multicultural Guidelines and ACA Multicultural Competencies in the field.  I am convinced that in doing so we will indeed be effective in moving the mental health professions forward in ways that concretely lead to revolutionary changes in the way we approach our work in promoting mental health, psychological wellness, and human development in our contemporary society.

Second, Janet Helms noted that it is important to understand the action strategies that we are all involved in the present time so that we can [1] affirm each other’s work and [2] build on these efforts in other creative ways.  In doing so we are better positioned to build what Dr. King and bell hooks refer to as “beloved communities.”

The progressive movement in the United States has suffered from the lack of time it has directed in acknowledging and honoring those persons who are doing revolutionary work on a day-to-day basis in their local communities to promote a greater level of social justice in our society.  It is a serious mistake to not acknowledge the difficult and courageous work many psychologists and counselors are doing to confront the complex problems of racism, sexism, and classim in our society.  We should not fall prey to this weakness but take time to understand and communicate the work we are doing in the field as we strive as individuals to implement the APA Multicultural Guidelines and the ACA MC Competencies and work to promote social justice in the schools, universities, workplaces, and communities where we all live and work..

Clearly, the field of psychology is racist, sexist, and classist.  APA clearly does much to support this status quo in this regard.  But my experience in traveling the country and attending conventions has led me to become aware of the truly dedicated and revolutionary work many of you are doing in your own local areas.  We need to harness these individual efforts in ways that can enhance the understanding other people have about the work all of us are doing..... it would also be useful to learn new lessons from others in the process... and continue to press APA and ACA to make the kind of institutional changes that are necessary to build a more sane society by referring to our individual and collective knowledge-base and practical experiences.

With this in mind I want to point out that many of you have e-mailed a short outline of the kinds of actions you are currently involved to promote social justice by implementing the APA Guidelines and ACA Multicultural Competencies in your work.  Paul Pedersen has graciously accepted the responsibility of synthesizing this data and will be sending everyone a summary so that we all can become more knowledgeable of the tremendous work that is being done around the country in support of multiculturalism, feminism, and liberation psychology.  IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO SEND IN YOUR OWN OUTLINE IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.  PAUL SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO INCLUDE ADDITION INFORMATION AS IT COMES IN TO HIM.

As you review Paul’s synthesis... please take a moment to celebrate the sacrifices and energy that other allies are investing into creating a more just and peaceful society as counselors and psychologists.  Then think about ways in which we move our commitment to transform the mental health professions and society at-large to a higher level by working collectively towards this end.

The National Planning and Implementation Committee is discussing ways in which four action strategies can be implemented in the coming year.  This includes:

1. Discussing the feasibility of getting a commitment from the organizers of the Diversity Challenge, The Multicultural Roundtable, The National Multicultural Summit, and leaders in ACA and APA to hold plenary and planning sessions to see how concrete action strategies can be expanded to implement the APA Multicultural Guidelines and ACA Multicultural Competencies in the field.

2. Exploring the feasibility of continuing the National Dialogue on Race.

3. Continuing the NIMC’s Nation Tour to Promote Multicultural Competence and Social Justice

and

4. Developing plans to provide counseling-psychological-consultation-

social justice advocacy services in the local areas where our national conventions will be held in the future.

In closing, I would assert that participating on committees in APA and ACA are important.  I would also suggest that attending national conventions and conferences are inspiring and thought-provoking. 

However, I believe that it is increasingly apparent that it is also important to maintain and expand a vanguard group within psychology and counseling that strives to pool our individual efforts and visions for health and justice together in ways that [1] increase our understanding of the difficult and transformative work we are already doing in the field, [2] stimulate new and creative thinking about how we might help to further revolutionize the mental health professions in ways that help build a more sane and just society, and [3] implement action strategies that build on our existing resources and collective passion and vision in the process.

I look forward to any suggestions you might have in continuing this work together.

I hope you find Paul’s summary helpful and inspiring.

I hope you will offer suggestions about any way that you might be of assistance in contributing to the action strategies outlined above or add new ideas to this discussion.

In the continuing struggle for justice and peace,

Michael D’Andrea

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