Reflections On Positionalities

Abstract

Drawing on Jessie King’s Teachings in Practice 1 Positionality, the book editors deepen their self-reflections as a way of situating themselves within the writing and making transparent the ways in which their positionalities may influence their voices. They encourage readers to also reflect on their positionalities and the ways in which these influence counselling and other relationships. As a practice tool, the authors introduce their revised version of the Wheel of power and privilege (drawing on previous versions in the literature). The spokes of the wheel introduce a series of descriptors of cultural identities and social locations, alongside the *isms that often accompany those lived experiences (e.g., gender identity, Indigeneity, social class). Melissa models walking around the wheel of privilege as she reflects on her positionality. The authors acknowledge the limitations of “white or whitish” space in the context of academic writing and position language choices made in the book as an act of justice-doing.

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.

Citation

Collins, S., & Jay, M. (2025). Reflections on our positionalities. In S. Collins and M. Jay (Eds.), Decolonizing health, healing, and care: Embodying culturally responsive and socially just counselling (Chapter 1.2). Counselling Concepts. https://doi.org/10.71446/rm92374503