Cultural Competence in Counseling

In order for all people to have equal access to social justice counseling and/or therapy, there must be a universal system that allow for all people to have to have the same opportunities to help. In order for professional helpers to help all people, individuals, institutions and education systems must have the same clear vision of an ideal multicultural climate. As a student that is studying to become a counseling professional, my primary concern is enhancing my skills and gaining the experience and expertise of helping others. However, in the professional counseling field it is not about “I” it’s about working together to build systems, developing skills and helping all people. In order to influence change, one must be committed and engaged in continuously improving one’s perception of cultural identity and

Each client is influenced by race, ethnicity, national origin, life stage, educational level, social class, and sex roles (Ibrahim, 1985). The counsellor must view the identity and development of culturally diverse people in terms of multiple interactive factors rather than a strictly cultural framework (Romero, 1985).

Cultural competency is critical in psychology practice. In the United States, the groups, which considered as cultural and ethnic minorities, are growing in the population (APA, 2003). Culture often influences the content and quality of people’s experience, perception, and response. Thus, it is important for psychologists to be aware of cultural influences on client’s presenting experience(s) (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2010). Without a regard for cultural influence, there is a significant risk for the psychologist to misunderstand, misinterpret, and misguide his or her client. Such misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and misguidance are not only unhelpful but can be detrimental for the client (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2011; Pope, & Vasquez, 2011).

War is hard on anyone involved; however, it is especially hard on the children who are forced to live with it or in close proximity to it. Children typically lack the worldview to process the level of violence that occurs during war. The Nigerian children who were rescued from the refugee camp lived in extremely poor conditions and before arriving there were subjected to serious events that may change them forever. They are likely suffering from some severe psychological effects of war-time violence that need to be addressed in order to break the cycle of violence they may be in, but also to ensure their mental health both now and in the future. There are several aspects of psychological recovery that need to be

Ongoing efforts to remedy inequities in counseling practices continue. One way is to train multiculturally competent counselors who are aware that a “one size fits all” approach is not effective for a diverse population of clients (Gerig, 2014). The American Psychological Association created a task force focused on

In a multicultural counseling perspective there are four key approaches when counseling individuals, (a) multicultural awareness of culturally learned assumptions about self and others leading to accurate assessments of clients, (b) multicultural knowledge of information, (c) multicultural skills and interventions, that are appropriate treating clients, and (d) individuals are from a variety of backgrounds, demographic status, and affiliation of cultures. The three-stage approach, will direct the counselor towards levels of multicultural competence in therapy by providing a successful outcome in the recovery process. When conducting a psychotherapy session with a client the counselor should be able to demonstrate skills, when exploring the client’s cultural background. Counselors should also be able to focus on the essential skills and pattern behaviors, when identifying cultural differences. Counseling a minority from a different culture counselors’ must be able to identify their own personal behaviors. These behaviors are crucial when counseling these individuals. First, a counselor must be able to sense the clients’ viewpoint or issue in some way. Secondly, a counselor should be specific when asking a question rather than being unclear and confusing.

CACREP Standard: Section II, 2.c addresses theories of multicultural counseling, identity development, and social justice. The systems theory or approach in multicultural counseling involves including the systems in which the client is a part of such as the client’s family system, communal system, and any environmental elements that influence and affect the client into the counseling framework. By including these systems, a counselor can gain insight on the client’s culture, worldviews, values, beliefs, and perspectives in a holistic manner. When using the systems approach, counselors are not only viewing the client as an individual, but viewing the client within their family dynamic, socioeconomic status, community in which they live and work,

Multicultural competence in counseling refers to the ability of a counselor to\o effectively interactive with people with different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds then their own (Cauce, 2010). Counselors must be are culturally self-aware, aware of the client’s culture, and willing to bring culture into the discussion during interactions with clients (Sue, Arredondo, & McDavis, 1994). A counselor must also be able to listen and help clients with goals and objectives without imposing their own cultural values on clients, be respectful of the counselor-client relationship and of the cultural differences, understand a client’s cultural view, and provided clients with the personalized assistance they seek.

I think that doctors have to avoid determine patients’ destiny. For example, in the book, doctors said that Lia had one day to live and she would definitely die. However, she lived many years. I think doctors could say the patient’s status is critical and they cannot provide a proper treatment since negativity could affect the patient’s health. It is important to stay positive since it will help both the doctors and the patients to achieve the best outcomes.

People behave accordingly to their culture which makes them to behavior in a certain direction. Thus, it is important for to a counselor to treat a client according to his or her culture. Some peoples' culture consists of religious beliefs, certain customs, rituals, which involves social, morals and values. Likewise, the part of a researcher is to deliver knowledge about the participant’s background and lifestyle which is essential for cultural competence (Sue & Sue, 2013, p. 9745). Also, (Code # A.2.c.) a researcher must respect their client’s culture and be culturally sensitive. Thus, it is important that researchers are culture competence when participants partake in a research study (ACA, 2014, p. 3). For this reason, the researcher most

The article A mixed methodological analysis of the role of culture in the clinical decision-making process is written by Hays, Prosek and McLeod (2010). In this article, the authors indicate that counseling process in the United States becomes more complex due to the dramatic growth of racial/ethnic minority populations. In this article, researchers try to address how culture as a factor impacts the clinical decision-making process with clients, and a special focus on clients’ cultural identities, counselors’ (including counseling trainees) biases and stereotypes towards clients’ cultural identities, and cultural matches between clients and counselors are also investigated.

Being a multicultural counselor means to putting the client first no matter what their cultural or beliefs maybe. Counselors have an obligation as professionals not letting there bias interfere with the counseling session. If you want to be multicultural competent then you first have to be aware of your biases. Then research those biases and get to know that culture and try and understand that culture. A counselors first duty is do no harm. If a counselor lets there biases in the counseling session, the counselor may cause harm during that session.

I do agree that multicultural training is important for all counselors. Self-awareness enables us as professionals, to be aware of our biases and prejudices, which is beneficial in a therapeutic process. I also agree that acknowledging racism and cultural diversity in a counseling context is beneficial because it enables therapists to address the presenting problems in light of these issues. In addition, cross-cultural and racial awareness diminishes the likelihood to misunderstandings in the therapeutic relationship. We also have to remember, that we are fallen beings in a fallen world, and we are likely to make mistakes. However, we should constantly rely on scripture to help guide us, even as we encounter

Engaging Diversity in Applied Settings, thus far, is one of the most impactful and influential classes I have attended. In the past four weeks of this course, the information I have received is not only interesting but I believe it is extremely useful in my everyday life. This class shows the history and impact of race and cultural diversity, it also allows me and my fellow classmates to explore each other’s viewpoints on each issue or idea. This form of organization in the classroom enforces the ideas we see written throughout the textbook. It enforces these ideas because during the discussion we see the different perspectives each person has evolved through their own worldview. Multicultural psychology: Understanding our Diverse Communities (2016) defines worldviews as “a psychological perception of the environment that determines how we think, behave, and feel” (p. 7). I believe having our participation graded in this class forces us to talk about these difficult issues and prepares me further, to use the information I am learning in my everyday, by making me more open to discussing issues of race and cultural differences. This ability to talk about these issues is a skill I see as extremely important, especially in my future career of a Clinical Psychologist.

(a) The acquisition development and inculcation of the proper value – orientation for the Survival of the individual and society;