Professional Rehabilitation Counselors

The decision between the Therapist and Latino client is a remarkable example of the importance of being sensitize and culturally competent. The therapist appeared to have inadvertently added to the client’s stress which potentially negatively affect the worker-client relationship as well as the intervention process. My initial response to the dialog was that of confusion. Although I tried to empathize with the counselor’s method of getting the young lady to take responsibility for her actions. I totally disagreed with his lack of insensitivity to the client’s indirect message. The young lady was trying to convey her feelings about her experiences as a Latino woman. He did not take inconsideration that although humans often have similar stories.

Capuzzi and Gross (2013) say there is a continual struggle for professional identity. One issue is whether counseling will develop as a united profession or as separate specialties. Other issues are multicultural counseling and social justice issues also, the organizational structure of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Remley and Herlihy (2015) address confusion about accreditation of specialties and varying state licensure and certification requirements for the Council for Accreditation and of Counseling and Counseling Related Educational Programs

As individuals, we are diverse based on the background, experience, ability, race, language, etc. which impact the lens through which we view others and ourselves. As diverse individual, we may belong to dominant or non- dominant groups. Thus, either we have power and privilege or we experience discrimination and oppression. Further, we are shelled with diversity, ethnicity, and multiculturalism issues. Counselors have some ethical primary responsibilities to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of the client (A.1.a), “honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity” and “promoting social justice” (Herlihy & Corey, 2014, p. 3)

I believe counseling is a collaborative partnership between client and counselor. Furthermore, this collaborative partnership is built from trust and acceptance of both client and counselor. I hope in conjunction with clients to understand the issues and concerns so to help them tap into their wisdom, creativity, and strengths to meet their current challenges. I believe in a comprehensive perspective through which clients can better comprehend themselves in the framework that our thinking about events can lead to emotional and behavioral upset. Moreover, counselors are to provide a safe environment for clients to explore their challenges and identify ways to move differently in overcoming these challenges.

When considering the different contexts in which counselling takes place, diversity appears to be the most distinguishing factor that is linked to client satisfaction Hankins (2007) and is aimed at providing a more ‘universal system of counselling’. (Patterson, 1996,

The culturally skilled counselor attempting a cross-cultural approach would be cognizant of his/her own tendencies toward personal bias and stereotyping of Santana’s appearance and attitude, as well as the very likely possibility of his client being on the receiving end of ridicule and criticism from others negatively stereotyping him as lazy, uneducated, or a “drug runner” just because he is Latino. Effective management and control of personal biases pave the way for open dialogue and the establishment of a clinical trust or professional bond that ideally leads to the discovery of core issues within the client that can subsequently be addressed.

Select and describe one issue of interest. Describe advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity, and success for clients. Identify public policies on the local, state, and national levels that affect the quality and accessibility of mental health services.

In working as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, I am learning the importance of quality individualizes services and how they can support people with disabilities to prepare for obtaining employment. I have been have been participating closely with individuals that have a disability to help them achieve greater levels of independence by assisting them to develop goals and look for opportunities for employment. I am finding out that you have to really put a lot of effort as a vocational counselor in gathering medical, educational and different evaluations to determine eligibility and to help with the planning process of assisting the individual to choose the right occupation for themselves. In planning for a consumer to reach their

Theoretical frameworks in counselling offer guiding perspectives and direction informing professional practice. As a practitioner I am drawn to post-modernist approaches that position the human experience as a social construction, and reality as a result of perception, language and culture ( ). Embedded however within that social construction for me is the necessity to consider the broader social and political climate and issues of power that may play a role in the human experience. As a counsellor, I would like to align with a therapeutic approach that values the diversity and experience of multiple realities, and that supports clients in finding their power both within and outside the counselling session. Embracing the client-counsellor

Considering counseling as a career path was never an option or an interest for me. Nevertheless, upon the completion of an internship at the Renaissance Treatment Center, my areas of interest slightly shifted. The Renaissance Treatment Center is a place that address addiction and mental health issues that many individuals are facing. At this internship, my duties were to administer assessments, complete discharges, and co-facilitate individualized and group therapy sessions. The main thing that stood out and propelled my interest for counseling was the lack of cultural diversity. For each individual that walked into the building seeking help, the majority unfortunately were minorities from the African American culture. For me, this was very unfortunate. It made me wonder why this is so, and what led these individuals down this path. After many completed assessments, I realized that the lack of education, poverty, and living in war stricken communities were some of

A rehabilitation counselor is the central coordinator of setting up services and the client’s goals. They help develop and enhance the client’s skills to secure independence, employment and function in the community (Garske, 2003). In order to be able to rehabilitate the client and set up obtainable goals and a treatment plan, the rehabilitation counselor must first understand ADA, the client’s functional limitations, challenges and obstacles they are facing, along with barriers that may pose a threat to the success of the client. Rehabilitation counselors also set up a support network the client can reach out to and utilize, as well as resources and accommodations

The United States population continues to increase in racial and ethnic diversity, therefore, it is pertinent that mental health professionals tailor their services to the needs of various cultural populations (Constantine, Kindaichi, Arorash, Donnelly, & Jung, 2002). The awareness that ethnic minorities experience negative consequences from being oppressed, resulted in the multicultural competence pedagogy and has helped counselors identify effective strategies to generate social change (Hage, 2003; Vera & Speight, 2003). Social norms that cause these injustices are identified, allowing for ethnic minorities to constitute and embrace empowerment. Moreover, this consciousness helps prevent therapists own bias’ from playing

The beginning section of the book describes the challenges counselors face in dealing with clients. (1). Moving from Two Areas of Competence to Three (2). Blurred Personal-Professional Distinctions (3).Expanded Definitions of Training (4). Confronting Dominant Views of Mental Health (5). Establishing a Scientific Base (6). Defining Relevant Ethical Standards (McMinn, 2011). After mapping out the challenges facing interdisciplinary integration, McMinn first divides his renowned book into eight rewarding chapters including summary and reflection following each of them. He also uses vignettes in order to ask his readers”What if this Happens” scenarios (McMinn, 2011)

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

“If we don’t fully understand our individual and collective roles in maintaining a system of white superiority, our relationships with people of color remains superficial, our ability to work in diverse workplaces is greatly diminished, and we fail to create a just world in which everyone has an equitable opportunity to contribute and thrive” (Kendall, 2013, p. 1). This paper discusses who I am as a cultural person and how I have come to be this way. The first section of this paper discusses my cultural background and my cultural identity. I address the factors that make up my cultural identity and the challenges that I have faced because of my cultural identity. The next section discusses my White racial identity development and the events in my life that have led me to become the person I am today in relation to my racial identity. The final section of this paper outlines the implications my own racial and cultural identity will have on my career as a clinical mental health counselor.