Diversity Ethical Codes

Cultural competence and ethical responsibility of counselors is an issue that holds increasing importance. To be both multicultural and ethical is increasingly challenging. The population of the United States is changing quickly from a predominately white Caucasian society to an ethnically diverse society`. The Hispanic population, which represented only 9% of the population in 1990, is projected to increase to about 25% of the population by 2050. The number of African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Eskimos/Aleuts will continue to increase as well (Aponte & Wohl, 2000). It has been predicted that Whites, who made up three fourths of the U.S. population in 1990, will no longer be in the majority by the

In my personal opinion and experience, I find that the field of psychology is lacking in diverse cultural competencies as much as the society is diverse in its population. I believe that as with using any theoretical model, the therapists’ cultural knowledge needs to include understanding of the many cultural considerations influencing the effectiveness of treatment when dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds. When servicing the individuals in the family, care and attention needs to be directed towards family and community norms and values around help seeking, secrecy and confidentiality, family roles, child rearing and spiritual practices.

In the past, counselors have lacked the knowledge and skills to interpret ethical guidelines in multicultural counseling. The ethical guidelines dictate how a counselor should have the necessary tools when conducting a counseling session. There is a shortfall of training and education when dealing with race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds in today’s society. Ethics is a hot topic for counselors, partially because there are so many different situations that can be affected by ethical behavior. These situations can range from betraying the clients trust to injustice. There tends to be a lot of ambiguity for how to handle a situation ethically since there are a lot of

Both the American Psychological Association (APA) and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) have codes of ethics to guide professionals in their practice. APA’s ethical code governs school, counseling, and clinical psychologists; thus, APA’s ethical code is broader than NASP’s ethical code. NASP’s ethical code is specific to school psychologists and thus includes a greater focus on minors and school-based practice. Beyond level of specificity, the ethical codes also have other notable differences. Specifically, NASP emphasizes a proactive role in social justice and creating healthy school, family, and community environments (Merrell, Ervin, & Peacock, 2012). APA, on the other hand, sets forth an expected minimum standard in these

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).

It is important to be aware of one’s limitations, weaknesses and strengths in the delivery of counseling services. Taking into account the cultural values of the client, the support systems and the client’s view of the key parts of his or her makeup (the history of the client) are culture specific (because someone is of the same race does not mean that values will be the same) and does not discount the individual. Sue et al reminds us that multicultural counseling competency looks beyond racial and ethnic minorities and also includes disabilities, sexual orientation, age, and other special populations (Sue, et al, 1992).

The relationship of a counselor to his or her client can be troubled when the two come from different cultural backgrounds. "As counselors incorporate a greater awareness of their clients' culture into their theory and practice, they must realize that, historically, cultural differences have been viewed as deficits (Romero, 1985). Adherence to white cultural values has brought about a naive imposition of narrowly defined criteria for normality on culturally diverse people" (Bolton-Brownlee 1987). The challenge for counselors today is to balance multiculturalism and sensitivity for the client with the need to move the client forward and enable him or her to reach productive life goals. Cultural acceptance cannot be synonymous with complacency.

Davis, a Muslim immigrant that killed a 12-year-old boy and severely injured a 14-year-old boy in the park, remaining unbiased and professional is very important. We must keep in mind that Mr. Davis has a serious mental condition that led to this unfortunate event. According to the American Psychological Association, regardless of the fact that Mr. Davis committed a crime he still deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. In Ethical Principles of Psychologist and Code of Conduct, Principle E, “Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language and socioeconomic status and consider these factors when working with members of such groups. Psychologists try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices” (EPPCC Principle E, 2010).

Reading this article definitely left me with an open mind on reconsidering what I now consider “right” and “wrong”, but not just in cases of social work or working with families but in my everyday life. Because we cannot define ourselves without including our culture I believe it safe to day that we are indeed defined by our culture. This increases the possibility of “false consensus effect” playing a huge part on our judgment simply because it is what we believe to be “right”. “False consensus effect”, stands out to me because it’s a lot like pluralistic ignorance expects we don’t consciously know that it is taking effect. It’s important to know how to handle

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.

Counselors who are unaware of diverse cultural viewpoints are more than likely to do intentional or unintentional damage when working within communities opposite of their own and with those whose cultures and worldviews differ from theirs. If a counselor is unaware of their own cultural identity, biases, and stereotypes, how then will they know if they are unintentionally causing harm to their clients or build rapport? Cultural self-awareness is relevant because counselors need to know their cultural identity and what they must offer their clients in a therapeutic relationship and to help clients become aware their cultural identities.

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

What one person or culture finds or believes to be ethical another may not. There are many different views and opinions across religions as well. This makes the matter of ethics subjective or objective. Ethics are relative to persons and different cultures. Diversity is a major factor and can influence ethicality greatly. Ethnic and cultural background, religion, and other influences are all vital factors concerning a person or cultures developing morality over time. These different societies have there own set of laws, codes and moral ideas about how human beings should conduct themselves. For example, it is moral for women to have their skin showing in public in America however; it is immoral for them to do the same in Iran. It is immoral

Counselors need to be aware of diverse cultures and understand their own biases, values, beliefs, and

These worldviews are associated with one’s culture and experiences in life. Combined, our worldview encompasses our values, attitudes, beliefs and opinions and impact how we make behave and make decisions. In turn, an individual’s locus of control forms and impacts their worldview. In general, it describes the ways in which we believe we have control over our experiences. Internal locus of control is when an individual believes they have control over their own fate versus external locus of control, which is when an individual believes their actions do not impact or determine what happens to them (Sue & Sue, 2013). A client’s worldview and locus of control goes on to impact how a counselor practices culturally competent counseling. A counselor practicing cultural self-awareness will analyze how their awareness impacts the counseling relationship with a client of another race and culture (Vera & Speight, 2003). Equally important is that the counselor understands how institutions and socio-political forces impact a client of marginalized culture’s self-esteem, culturally appropriate and unbiased assessments and interventions, as well as barriers that prevent these clients from utilizing mental health counseling