Positionality and Power Dynamics

Therapist Client Relationship - Positionality and Power

In reflecting on my experiences with power, privilege, and oppression, I have become increasingly aware of how my background shapes my work as a clinical social worker. I am currently interning at Wasatch Behavioral Health - Provo Family Clinic, where I work primarily with low-income individuals on Medicaid. I recognize that I come from a position of economic privilege, while many of those I serve do not. This difference creates an inherent power dynamic, one that requires me to approach my role with humility and awareness so I do not unintentionally reinforce inequities.

I also carry the privilege of having been raised in a traditional family with both parents present, and I am now raising my own family in similar circumstances. In contrast, many of my clients come from family structures that look very different. While my background influences how I view family life, my clients’ lived experiences challenge and expand my perspective as a clinician. I see it as my responsibility to honor their unique strengths without imposing my own assumptions or preferences.

These experiences continually remind me of the importance of curiosity and sensitivity in clinical work. I strive to bring openness into every session, seeking understanding with compassion, focusing on client strengths, and supporting individuals and families as experts in their own lives.

I also recognize that my lived experience can shape how clients perceive me. Some may wonder if my background limits my ability to empathize with their struggles. My hope is that, over time, clients will feel safe with me and know they are met with love, respect, and unconditional positive regard.

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Who Am I?

Hello! My name is Courtenay South I was born in Canada in 1979 to Ronald and Susan Carter Growing up, my family was middle-class. We didn't have an abundance of money, but we always had enough. We felt loved, seen, and safe. My parents raised me, my sister, and two brothers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't remember a time when I didn't believe in Jesus Christ. I also can't remember a time when I wasn't teased for my beliefs. I was teased as a child. I was teased as a teen. I was teased by my peers at school, and I was teased by my extended family. Being teased for my religious beliefs was the first time I remember being labeled as different. The first time I remember noticing I was part of a minority social identity group. In 1997, at the age of eighteen, I moved to the United States to attend Brigham Young University. Once at BYU, it didn't take long for the Canada jokes to start. Being labeled as 'other' because of my...

Power, Privilege and Oppression

My social position reflects a mix of privilege, power, and oppression. Power: In my home, I have held power as a stay-at-home mother. I enjoy the freedom to influence the rhythms of my household and guide the growth of my children without outside control. I choose what to feed my children, where they attend school, and which religious beliefs I teach them in the home. I have been entrusted to mother my bonus son, Zack, whose birth mother allowed me space to step in when her circumstances were limiting. While caregiving roles are sometimes undervalued in society, my experience has been one of support and encouragement in this important work I have chosen to pursue. Privilege: I am privileged because of the color of my skin. I have never experienced discrimination or lost opportunities based on my physical appearance. I am also privileged by financial stability. My ability to remain home with my children is directly tied to economic resources, and I am grateful for that priviledge e...

Critical Incedents

I have experienced several Critical Incidents that have broadened my awareness of culture and diversity. When I was young, my family and I served Christmas Dinner to unhoused individuals in Calgary, Alberta. This is where my desire to serve underprivileged populations began. A few years ago, I volunteered at The Refuge Utah, a domestic violence shelter. This experience opened my eyes to cycles of abuse and the complex difficulties victims face when seeking help. In the fall of 2024, I started an MSW program at BYU. Shortly into the program, my cohort attended the local Utah Islamic Center and the Kol Ami Synagogue. I appreciated how these experiences strengthened unity between different religious groups in our community. Additionaly, during our social justice class, we were challenged to complete a Proximity Project. This project required selecting a population with which I had limited experience and getting to know them better. I chose to learn more about and sp...

Multicultural Positionally - Courtenay South

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