TITLE:
Therapist Positionality: A Cornerstone of Antiracist Clinical Practice
AUTHORS:
Wendy Ashley
KEYWORDS:
Therapist Positionality, Antiracist Practice, Reflexivity, Cultural Humility, Power and Privilege, Intersectionality
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
3,
2025
ABSTRACT: Therapist positionality is a foundational principle of antiracist clinical practice, yet it remains underemphasized in practitioner education, training, and ongoing professional development. Positionality refers to the interplay of a therapist’s intersecting identities, including race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, and professional status, and how these shape power, perception, and relational dynamics. This article examines the role of positionality across clinical, collegial, and supervisory relationships, offering strategies to promote reflexivity, cultural humility, and relational accountability. Using positionality, clinicians can move beyond cultural competence into an ongoing, embodied practice of cultural humility, ethical engagement, and cultural responsiveness, particularly with clients and colleagues from marginalized communities.