Multicultural and feminist perspectives are characterized by a variety of similarities, and the integration of multicultural and feminist perspectives in counseling psychology has been a key aim of those in these fields for decades. However, the effective implementation this approach often has been proven challenging and elusive, with difficulties defining the complexity of feminist and multicultural factors in inclusive and meaningful ways. Rising to the challenging of integrating multicultural and feminist perspectives, this book features the accumulated knowledge of approximately 40 years of scholarship that flows out of feminist and multicultural efforts within counseling psychology. It brings a feminist multicultural perspective to core domains within counseling psychology such as ethical frameworks, lifespan development, identify formation and change, growth-oriented and ecological assessment, and career theory and practice. Emphasis is placed on the intersections among social identities related to gender, ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, social class and socioeconomic status, religion, disability, and nationality. Chapters provide insights and perspectives about specific groups of women include African American women, Latinas, women with disabilities, women in poverty, women who have experienced trauma, and American Muslim women. Also featured are a range of additional multicultural feminist psychological practices such as feminist multicultural mentoring, teaching, training, and social activism. Affectively blending multicultural and feminist approaches, the theme of working toward social justice for all people permeates all chapters of this handbook.

The ambitious goal of this book is to transform how mental health practitioners understand and treat diverse groups of women. Doing so involves thinking in more nuanced ways about women's multiple identities that are formed from the complex interplay of ethnic and racial background, social class, sexual orientation, ability/disability status, religion, age, and other factors. The chapters, which are written by authors of diverse backgrounds, are chock full of helpful perspectives, techniques, and case studies. They reflect the experience of women who have lived and studied the research on the social identities they discuss and thus convey a depth of understanding of women's experiences as ""outsiders-within."" While grounded in the APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Girls and Women, the volume also integrates other guidelines for affirmative practice with diverse groups (e.g., multicultural; disability; and lesbian, gay, and bisexual guidelines). It will enhance readers' practice with all women.