Topics - Special Considerations - Supporting Marginalized Communities

Disabled Communities

Assisting Those Who Are Most Vulnerable

Marginalized communities face barriers that limit their access to resources, opportunities and equal treatment in society. These communities include people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, low-income populations, people with disabilities, and immigrants. Given the rise of attacks and legislation against marginalized communities over the past few years, the work professional counselors do in supporting them has been even more crucial.

Related Articles from Counseling Today

Workplace Wellness in Clients with Disabilities

May 2024

Five strategies counselors can use to help clients with disabilities overcome employment challenges and improve workplace wellness.

An older man in bed holding a glass of water; another man sits beside him holding a white plate with two pills

Coping with the stress and uncertainty of chronic health conditions

November 2023

People with chronic health conditions often face uncertainty and psychological distress, which is why validation and emotional regulation are crucial in helping clients learn to cope and live productive lives.

Two older women laughing; walking on the beach; one holding coffee; adult friendship

Forming friendships as a neurodivergent adult

June 2023

A common misconception about people who are neurodivergent is that they cannot or do not want to form friendships.

Black woman in a yellow shirt staring off to the side.

Conceptualizing diagnosis through a social justice lens

May 2023

Approaching diagnosis through a lens that considers systemic, cultural and ecological factors leads to better treatment outcomes for clients.

Peer support, mad pride and disability justice

February 2022

Turning toward the critical feedback that these social movements have for the mental health professions can aid counselors in repairing ruptures and strengthening the therapeutic work.

Reconciling disability studies with mental health counseling

January 2020

Growing up Jewish and queer in a conservative part of Birmingham, Alabama, I faced some pretty severe bullying as a child and teenager. It was a common occurrence for me to be called anti-Semitic slurs and mocked for looking and acting different.

The therapeutic triad of disability

July 2018

For many counseling professionals, the exploration of forgiveness, self-compassion or resilience can seem daunting, particularly when determining ways to apply these concepts to people with disabilities and their specific needs. Where do I start?

Focusing on ability, not disability

April 2014

This excerpt from Courtney Vinson’s story describes her pathway to college and the workplace despite being diagnosed with an intellectual disability (ID) and told by educators that she had limited future options.

Seeing potential, not disability

February 2011

When Chad Betters wants his students to grasp what it means to have a disability, he shares the story of a former client. The woman had been a nurse for 19 years but developed an allergy to latex as a result of her work.

ACTION ALERT

Tell Legislators How Executive Orders Are Affecting Your Clients

By sharing your story, you highlight the human impact of these orders and the necessity of centering policy around accessibility and reaching underserved communities. Thank you for being an advocate!

Featured Releases

Group Work With Persons With Disabilities

Sheri Bauman and Linda R. Shaw

This one-of-a-kind manual provides direction for leading groups of people with disabilities or groups that have members with disabilities. Viewing disability as a single aspect of a multifaceted person, Drs. Bauman and Shaw share their insight and expertise and emphasize practical skill building and training for facilitating task, psychoeducational, counseling, family, and psychotherapy groups across various settings.

Topics examined in Part I include common themes in groups that focus on disability; various group formats, including groups using technological platforms; issues of diversity that exist simultaneously with ability; group composition; ethical concerns; and training considerations and logistical accommodations. Part II focuses on group counseling with clients experiencing sensory, psychiatric, cognitive, and physical disabilities as well as chronic medical conditions. A list of resources, support information, and group exercises completes the book.

Tags: Cultural Identities, Multiculturalism & Diversity, Group Work, Marginalized Communities, Modalities

Learn More

Related Continuing Education

Client confidentiality laws mean that closing a practice, even temporarily, comes with certain rules and restrictions. In this webinar, counselors will learn how to create an emergency closure plan that meets those confidentiality laws and protects clients and counselors.

The community of people with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+ is largely invisible. In fact, Williams, and Ogletree (2023) describe this population as ´Erased and absent from professional literature’ (p.259). A continuing education (CE) addressing sexuality and disability in and of itself is essential to counselors.

There is limited data on suicide among people with disabilities. Yet, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2023) states that a survey in 2021 highlighted adults with disabilities were three times more likely to report suicidal ideation in the past month than adults without disabilities.

Counselors have an ethical obligation to maintain their competence in their skills and remain informed regarding best practices for working with diverse populations. This bundle includes the Continuing Professional Development products titled Suicide Among Men and Women: Practices and Implications and Suicide Among People with Disabilities: Practices and Implications.