Counseling Psychology and Reproductive Justice: A Call to Action

Abstract

Although it remains an underresearched topic in the field, counseling psychology can and should play an important role in enhancing individuals’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH), as well as promoting reproductive rights at the systemic level. SRH issues affect virtually all people, especially those whose sexual and reproductive behaviors and identities are stigmatized. In this article, we make the case for the importance of SRH and rights in counseling psychology, and introduce the reproductive justice framework as a means to incorporate these issues into research, training, practice, and advocacy for social justice. We introduce four case studies with a focus on the ways in which restrictions on SRH differentially affect individuals across dimensions of social inequality including race, class, and sexual orientation. Next, we assess the state of scholarship on SRH in counseling psychology. Finally, we offer an action plan for incorporating reproductive justice principles into counseling psychology.