Using Popular Film to Teach Multicultural Counseling: A Constructivist Approach

ABSTRACT

The use of popular film as an experiential teaching tool in multicultural counselor education has been well documented. However, existing research has been limited. The purpose of this study is to implement a unique pedagogic intervention using popular films and to study how counseling students experience the activity as part of their multicultural counseling training. The researchers utilized the popular films Crash and Precious to stimulate student dialogue and reflection on topics pertaining to race, culture, privilege, and social justice. The findings indicate that popular films, when implemented in conjunction with reflective learning activities, are effective in promoting students’ multicultural and social justice counseling competencies. Participants reported that the pedagogic activity was effective in bringing to life the multicultural course concepts and stimulating difficult but necessary conversations about race, ethnicity, privilege, and power. Finally, implications of this study could further inform the field of multicultural counselor education.

KEYWORDS:

• Constructivist
• counselor education
• creativity in counseling
• cultural competence
• diversity
• experiential multicultural counselor education activities
• multicultural counseling
• pedagogy
• popular film
• privilege
• qualitative research

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jay M. Nittoli

Jay M. Nittoli is with the Warner School of Education in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.

Douglas A. Guiffrida

Douglas A. Guiffrida is an Associate Professor of counseling and human development with the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.