PSYC 357
Clinical Psychology & Social Justice: Centering Marginalized Perspectives Fall 2024
Division III Difference, Power, and Equity

In this course, students will evaluate the critical question of whether and how clinical psychology can address mental health disparities and promote social justice. Students will gain a substantive understanding of research and theory examining psychopathology, including historical perspectives, expression and conceptualization of psychopathology, etiological theories from varied disciplines, and intervention and prevention strategies. We will take a liberation psychology and intersectional approach to examine the ways in which various intersecting systems of oppression and privilege shape the mental health and lived experiences of individuals and communities. Throughout the course, we will center topics and people that have been epistemically excluded from the field of clinical psychology. Topics such as racism, discrimination, resistance, pride, collective care, and queer affirming interventions will be addressed and the voices of those with marginalized identities (for example, due to their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status) will be highlighted. Students will evaluate current research and theory with attention to bias, inequities, methodological rigor, and potential usefulness for promoting social justice, through prevention, intervention, and policy.