White Racial Identity Attitudes and the Ego Defense Mechanisms Used by White Counselor Trainees in Racially Provocative Counseling Situations

Examining White Counselor Trainees’ Reactions to Racial Issues in Counseling and Supervision Dyads

This study examined the reactions of White counselor trainees to hypothetical, provocative, cross-racial counseling and supervision dyads. It employed a qualitative methodology of inquiry to explore the underlying dynamics associated with cross-racial counseling and supervision dyads. Working with a sample of 8 White male and female counselor trainees, a focus group interview was conducted using vignettes that depicted racial issues in counseling and supervision situations. The focus group interview was transcribed, and themes and categories that captured the complexity of the trainees’ reactions to racially charged situations in counseling and supervision were identified. The implications of the study’s findings are discussed and direction is offered for future research in this area.

Multicultural Issues in Graduate Advising Relationships

Although advisor—advisee relationships are ubiquitous to graduate training, there is relatively little scholarship bearing on advising relationships. Not surprisingly, the intersection between multiculturalism and advising relationships is also sparse. Given the potential increase in the numbers of People of Color entering graduate training due to the changing demographics in the United States and the influence of advising relationships on advisees’ personal and professional development, it is imperative to address the role of culture in the advising relationship—in this article, we will address race, sex, and sexual orientation. Hence, in this article, we address the potential impact of racial and cultural socialization processes on the advising relationship and organizational contexts.