The multicultural counseling movement has increased counselors’ knowledge of the cultural values and mental health needs of marginalized communities. While this knowledge might contribute to more culturally relevant service, this does little to change the sociopolitical circumstance that oppress and contribute to suffering in marginalized communities. Given the cultural divide in the world, the reemergence of hate groups, and the open discrimination against marginalized communities, I argue that the future of multicultural counseling requires the sociopolitical development of marginalized communities. Sociopolitical development describes the process by which communities gain awareness of oppression and take action toward liberation and autonomy. Through this session, participants will learn about sociopolitical development and interventions counselors can implement with clients to facilitate the development of critical reflection skills, sociopolitical efficacy and activism. By facilitating sociopolitical development of clients, counselors can better understand the barriers experienced by marginalized communities and work collaboratively with clients to improve their social context.

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Dr. Carlos P. Hipolito-Delgado is Associate Professor in Counseling at the University of Colorado Denver. His research interests include the ethnic identity development of Latinas/os/xs and Chicanas/os/xs, the effects of internalized racism on communities of color, training to improve the cultural competence of counselors, and the sociopolitical development of students of color. Dr. Hipolito-Delgado has received grants from the American Educational Research Association, the Spencer Foundation, Jobs for the Future, and the Hewlett Foundation to study the sociopolitical development of youth. He is a Governing Counseling representative for the American Counseling Association.