Cultural and Critical Explorations in Community Psychology

This book engages the practice of community-based psychology through a critical lens in order in order to demonstrate that clinical practice and psychological assessment in particular, require more affirmative psychopolitical agency in the face of racial injustice within the urban environment. Macdonald includes examples of clinical case analyses, vignettes and ethnographic descriptions while also drawing upon a cross-fertilization of theoretical ideas and disciplines.  An oft neglected element of community psychology is the practice of community informed psychological assessment, especially within the inner city environments. This book uniquely suggests ideas for how clinical practice, in relationship to issues such as race and cultural memory can serve as a substantial vehicle for social justice against the backdrop of a prejudiced criminal justice system and mental health delivery system. 

Heather Macdonald is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lesley University, USA. She came to academia after years of practice as a clinical psychologist whose work involved community outreach, child assessment, and individual therapeutic services to children and families in the foster care system and the juvenile justice system. Dr. Macdonald's work in the inner cities and abroad has led to scholarly research on the interface between culture, social justice, relational ethics, clinical practice and post-colonial thought.