Clients who access services within the mental health systems may find themselves marginalized and powerless, removed from decision-making, incapable of advocating on their own because of stigma, a debilitating illness or temporary incapacitation, overwhelmed by the many social and institutional injustices they face. Counselors can use advocacy strategies to change attitudes, secure resources, reduce stigma, defend cultural identities, remove barriers, and ensure discounted voices are heard. Healing and health require more than counseling and support, they require attention to attitudes, values, and practices that oppress and constrain individuals from fully participating in society. The politics of identity conceives of social justice differently.
