Psychosocial Responses to Sociopolitical Targeting, Oppression and Violence: Challenges for Helping Professionals

This book is a comprehensive guide for social workers, psychologists, and counselors working with individuals and groups affected by historical and current sociopolitical oppression and violence. It offers new models for understanding the nature and consequences of sociopolitical disasters and provides interventions for use on a micro, mezzo, and macro level. It draws on indigenous and BIPOC knowledge and scholarship and integrates knowledge and theory from disaster mental health, psychosocial capacity building, trauma therapy, psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavioral theories, and resilience and positive psychology. It promotes egalitarian, collaborative relationships and extensive use of training of trainers and aims to prepare graduate students and practitioners for work that promotes the collective and individual strength and efficacy of affected people while also responding directly to vulnerability, stress, and trauma.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book is a vital resource for social workers, psychologists, and counselors seeking to engage in psychosocial work with individuals and groups who are experiencing distress and trauma as a result of historical and ongoing sociopolitical oppression and violence. Sociopolitical oppression is a persistent and systematic crisis driven by social targeting and discrimination, including racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiments. Its far-reaching consequences are profound and debilitating, akin to the aftermath of a single event disaster but more insidious due to the ongoing nature of social targeting and harassment.

As a guide for direct clinical practice, this book offers innovative models for understanding the nature and consequences of sociopolitical disasters. It provides guidance on a range of interventions, including clinical, psychoeducational, advocacy, and social justice, that can be implemented at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. By drawing on indigenous and BIPOC knowledge and scholarship, the book critiques dominant Western, Eurocentric perspectives on personhood and proposes alternative models of intervention. It also challenges assumptions about the roles of clients and workers, advocating for more egalitarian, collaborative relationships and extensive training of trainers.

The book is organized into five chapters, each covering a different aspect of sociopolitical oppression and trauma. The first chapter provides an overview of the concept of sociopolitical disasters and their impact on individuals and communities. The second chapter explores the historical roots of sociopolitical oppression, including colonialism, slavery, and genocide. The third chapter examines the psychological effects of sociopolitical trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. The fourth chapter discusses the role of social workers, psychologists, and counselors in responding to sociopolitical disasters. The fifth chapter presents case studies from around the world, illustrating the application of various interventions and strategies in addressing sociopolitical trauma.

Throughout the book, the authors draw on a wide range of knowledge and scholarship from the fields of disaster mental health, psychosocial capacity building, trauma therapy, psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavioral theories, and theories of resilience and positive psychology. They integrate these diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of the nature and consequences of sociopolitical oppression and trauma. The book also critically examines assumptions about the roles of client and worker, proposing more egalitarian, collaborative relationships and extensive use of training of trainers.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking resource for social workers, psychologists, and counselors who are committed to addressing the impact of sociopolitical oppression and violence on individuals and communities. It offers innovative models of intervention, critical critiques of dominant Western perspectives, and a call for more egalitarian, collaborative relationships. By integrating knowledge and theory from various fields, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the nature and consequences of sociopolitical disasters and offers practical strategies for responding to them.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367897949