Consciousness-raising groups as a multicultural awareness approach: an experience with counselor trainees

This article discusses the usefulness of consciousness-raising (CR) groups in the training of multiculturally aware counselors, and provides a description of their use in a graduate course on multicultural and gender issues in counseling. The conceptual framework for this training experience is built on Young's (1992) analysis of oppression, Freire's (1971, 1973) theory of liberating pedagogy, and social constructionist philosophy. Course procedures and several CR activities are described; the training experience is evaluated in terms of student reactions to it and potential dilemmas an instructor might face in using this format for teaching.