Practice 7 Ethical Space

Abstract

In this chapter Sandra, Melissa, and Jessie enhance understanding of cultural safety through analysis of power and privilege and intentional work to dismantle power imbalances within therapeutic relationships. The unique, valuable, and essential standpoints held by those in often-marginalized sociocultural positions are amplified, inviting power-sharing and equal valuing of diverse approaches to health, healing, and care in both professional theory and client–counsellor relationships. The authors assume a constructivist epistemology, noting how ideological positionings often influence therapeutic relationships through the overt or covert persistence of sociocultural norms and discourses. They point to health-limiting dominating discourses that are often supported through existing power structures in society and within the fields of counselling and psychology. These dominating narratives or stories find expression through power-over valuations that result in othering (i.e., positioning clients’ perspectives as “lesser than” or “different from”). Jessie guides readers to move into an ethical space in which cultural biases can be challenged and cultural safety can grow. Navigating ethical space with humility and awareness requires therapists to reflect intentionally and honestly on the knowledge, privileges, and biases they bring into this space. It is within this ethical space that stereotypes can be dismantled and cultural appreciation can blossom. Leaning into ethical space fosters cultural courage in lowering defenses and disrupting excuses for maintaining cultural biases and assumptions. Moving into this in-between, relational space is supported by deconstruction: the dismantling of behind-the-scenes sociocultural narratives that shape personal and collective perspectives. Deconstruction is integral to the processes of decolonizing and Indigenizing counselling practices.

Sandra, Melissa, and Jessie are grateful for the practice illustrations offered by these co-authors:

• Lisa Gunderson highlights the lack of attention to minoritized communities during her psychology education, a significant gap in knowledge and training that still persists. She shares how this has shaped her commitment to represent and speak out for minoritized peoples.
• Gina Wong introduces feminist standpoint theory as a lens through which unearned epistemic privilege can be exposed and representation of unprivileged voices is amplified. She embraces critical, emancipatory, Indigenous, and other social justice-centred epistemological frameworks.

Co-Authors

Sandra Collins (she/her), PhD, is a co-editor of this book. She writes from the perspective of a feminist, lesbian, cisgender, woman with an invisible disability, who is a white, retired professor, and inhabits a privileged social class. Over the 25 years of her academic and professional career, she focused her research, writing, and teaching on cultural responsivity and social justice in theory, research, and practice. This is her fifth book on these topics, two of which were awarded the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Counselling biannual book award. She also received a silver medal for best e-book design by the Independent Publisher Book Awards. 

Melissa Jay (she/her), PhD, RPsych, is a cisgender nehiyaw (Cree) member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and lifelong student of yoga philosophy. She is a cisgender, able-bodied woman who moves through the world with white-passing privilege. She is a psychologist and associate professor at Athabasca University. Her work is centred in reciprocity and relationship, decolonized healing, anti-oppressive practices, and the integration of ancient wisdom and psychology. Her intention is to share trauma-informed, culturally responsive care, alongside her ongoing collaborative research exploring relational accountability, Indigenous methodologies, and ethical engagement with community.

Jessie King (she/her), PhD. Hadiksm Gaax di waayu. Jessie has matrilineal ties to Gitxaała, belonging to the Ganhada. She is also settler-European Irish/English on her father’s side. She is an experienced instructor, facilitator, and researcher with a background in health, philosophy, and research design. Her areas of specialization include cultural safety, Indigenous rights and contemporary issues, research methodologies, decolonization and Indigenization, and instructional design. She is living on the traditional and unceded territories of Lheidli T’enneh.

Lisa Gunderson (Akua Offeibea, she/her), PhD, RCC, ACS, is the founder of One Love Consulting and an award-winning educator and equity consultant for families, educational, and organizational institutions. She is a registered clinical counsellor in British Columbia and an approved clinical supervisor in California. For almost 30 years she has focused on equity and anti-racism issues for racialized and minoritized populations, including Black ethnic identity in Canada and the U.S. In 2023 she received the John Young Advocacy Award from VCPAC for “courageous, principle-based efforts advocating for equity and access for all students.” For almost 10 years I have worked clinically with the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School where I served as a clinical school counsellor, peer, and intern supervisor.

Gina Wong (she/her; they/them), PhD, RPsych, is a psychologist, researcher, writer, and a perinatal mental health certified (PMH-C) clinician. She is dedicated to increasing literacy, focus, and successful treatment for maternal mental health illness in Canada, particularly for women of colour. She co-founded and served as the vice-president of the Postpartum Support International-Canada. She has authored or edited three books related to mothering: Moms Gone Mad: Motherhood and Madness Oppression and Resistance; Mothering in East Asian Communities: Politics and Practices ; and Maternal Infanticide and Filicide: Foundations in Maternal Mental Health Forensics.

Citation

Collins, S., Jay, M., King, J., Gunderson, L., & Wong, G. (2025). Practice 7 Ethical space: Walking alongside. In S. Collins and M. Jay (Eds.), Decolonizing health, healing, and care: Embodying culturally responsive and socially just counselling (Chapter 3.4). Counselling Concepts. https://doi.org/10.71446/pn13548602