Exploring Stages -1 and -2 of the Six Stages Framework in Clinical Practice (See the Stages of the SSF Below)
Section 1: Identifying Patterns
Reflect on your practice. Have you ever found yourself or a colleague:
- [ ] Avoiding conversations about race, identity, or oppression in therapy
- [ ] Feeling defensive when clients or peers raise equity concerns
- [ ] Believing neutrality means staying ‘objective’ or avoiding social justice issues
- [ ] Dismissing a client’s experience of discrimination as ‘subjective’
- [ ] Assuming Western norms or values are ‘standard’
- [ ] Feeling overwhelmed, resistant, or dismissive toward EDI initiatives
- [ ] Using humour, silence, or redirection to move away from sensitive topics
- [ ] Feeling that DEI work is outside the scope of clinical practice
Other behaviours you’ve noticed:
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Section 2: Reflective Questions
1. What messages—culturally, professionally, or historically—might have influenced your attitudes about identity and inclusion in your clinical work?
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2. How do your social identities (e.g. race, gender, class, ability, sexuality) shape your lens as a clinician or supervisor?
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3. Can you recall a time when you felt challenged or uncomfortable in relation to a client’s or colleague’s lived experience? How did you respond?
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4. What beliefs or assumptions might keep you at Stage -1 or -2? What are you afraid might happen if you move beyond them?
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Section 3: Moving Forward
What do you need to help shift toward more inclusive practice?
- [ ] Culturally responsive supervision
- [ ] Anti-oppression training or reading
- [ ] Safe spaces for identity-based reflection
- [ ] Peer accountability or practice forums
- [ ] Reviewing ethical codes through an EDI lens
- [ ] Honest feedback from clients, peers, or supervisors
- [ ] Personal therapy focused on identity and power
One action I will commit to in the next month is:
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Supervision Dialogue Prompt
“In what ways might I still be operating from a place of unawareness, discomfort, or resistance – and how is this impacting my clinical relationships?”
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Inclusion Psychologists Ltd. Copyright: © 2025
