Counseling Diverse Populations

Book excerpt: The purpose of this second edition of Counseling Diverse Populations is the same as the first edition, to call to the attention of mental healthy practitioners the unique experiences and needs of four groups within the American society that, along with ethnic and selected other groups, share the common experience of oppression. These four groups are people with disabilities, older people, women, and gay people. Each of these four groups has a common physical and/or behavioral characteristic that identifies individuals as members of the group and that has singled them out for differential and inferior treatment. Each of these groups has in the past experienced (and continues to experience) discrimination as a result of their physical and/or behavioral uniqueness. Discrimination for all four groups has ranged from negative stereotypes to physical violence. It is our thesis that mental health practitioners need to be more aware of the unique experiences of these groups in order to effectively intervene on their behalf.