ABSTRACT
The contemplative exercise is designed to enhance awareness of personal attitudes, biases, and/or prejudices regarding individuals whom we perceive to differ from ourselves in terms of race, culture, age, ability status, social class, religion, gender and affectional orientation. Increase the ability of counselors-in-training to recognize their automatic reactions when contemplating diverse populations. Minimize attitudinal barriers and social biases that may interfere with effective social justice and advocacy work. The facilitator may list various answers on the whiteboard to look for commonalities and differences in reactions and responses. The facilitator should emphasize that accepting ourselves and others, as well as cultivating compassion for ourselves and others, are typically the first steps that must be taken before true social justice advocacy work can occur.
