Role Of White Therapists On The Body Of The Latino Identity

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.

The Racial/Cultural Identity Development Model was constructed to help counselors to better understand what frame of mind a client was in when they came into therapy. The development of cultural and ethnic identity occurs in a stage-wise manner throughout a person’s lifetime. According to the Racial/Cultural Identity Development Model (R/CID), this process occurs in five phases and reflect an individual’s understanding of his or her relationship with the dominant culture. These phases can guide the counselor to a better understanding of their client, although not everyone will fit into one of these phases. Some can be in several of the phases and some may not be in any of the phases. All five phases are guidelines to help a counselor if a client is dealing with racism or oppression. Ideally, once a person has reached the final stage, he or she is able to appreciate and respect his or her native culture and the dominant culture (Sue & Sue, 2016). These phases include: conformity, dissonance, resistance and immersion, introspection, and integrative awareness. Phase one, the conformity stage, is where the client is guided by the dominant group and follow their behaviors and actions. The client is easily persuaded to follow the majority, going against their own race. This type of attitude helps the client feel more accepted by the majority because he or she believes that validation comes from a White perspective. The client accepts belief in White

Cultural mistrust of white mental health clinicians among African Americans with severe mental illness was conducted to determine the effects of cultural mistrust when African American patients with their white clinicians. The hypothesis tested was African American patients would have more of a negative feeling towards white clinicians that are providing care for them. According to this study they examined 154 African Americans that had been recently admitted into a psychiatric

The need to provide mental health services to culturally diverse clients has increased over the past couple of years due to the increase in racial and ethnic diversity in the United Sates. Consequently, there is a need for mental health professionals to offer effective interventions that address social issues that accompany racial and ethnic diversity (Constantine, Hage, Kindaichi, & Bryant, 2007). Research shows that efforts are being made to implement social justice advocacy strategies and interventions into counseling practices. This growing movement calls for counselors to be agents and advocates for social justice, oppression, and discrimination (Ratts & Hutchins, 2009). Social justice counseling approaches focus on empowering the individual by actively confronting injustices and inequalities that affects clients in their systemic frameworks (Pedersen, Lonner, Draguns, Trimble, & Rio, 2015).

To effectively lessen the effects of lifelong racism and discrimination, Hays & Erford (2014) recommends a strength-based approach, with the counselor focusing on the individual and family capacities. Focusing on the client’s positive attributes and favorable cultural norms can encourage one to become more resilient (Vaterlaus, Skogrand, & Chaney, 2015). Furthermore, applying counseling skills such as unconditional positive regard, empathy, consistency, focusing on the client, and providing a supportive environment can all help the therapeutic relationship (Hays & Erford, 2014). Additionally, making the counselor/client relationship equal will also allow the client to feel more comfortable, may dispel the mistrust of counseling prominent in African American culture (Hays & Erford, 2014). Finally, acknowledging the racial differences with the client could encourage them to discuss the racism and discrimination they may have experienced (Hays & Erford, 2014).

Underutilization and early termination of mental health services for Latinos in the U.S continues to be a concern for current research and practice in social work. A synthesis of current research demonstrates that there are several factors impacting access and utilization of mental health services for Latinos. According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services (2001), although Latinos are at increased vulnerability for developing mental illness, they continue to be half as likely in comparison to whites to access mental health services. Low rates of utilization of mental health services among the Latino community can be associated to a variety of factors including socioeconomic factors, cultural variables, stigma, psychotherapeutic challenges, client-therapist interaction (Kouyoumdjian, Zamboanga, & Hansen, 2003). Mental health conditions can significantly impact and individual’s ability to function and achieve their highest potential, consideration of these factors is essential in order to address the needs of a vulnerable population, and support Latinos in accessing mental health services when needed. This learning brief will focus on exploring how client system factors specific to Latinos’ resources, culture and worldview are associated with the underutilization of services for Latinos and important implications for practitioners when providing treatment.

African Americans are socialized around race, race has special meaning, and they expect to talk about race in psychotherapy; that 's simple enough and not an especially revolutionary idea to many. But here 's the rub. Why do most practitioners avoid talking about race despite race 's special meaning to African Americans? How come so many practitioners accept African Americans feeling unsatisfied even if feeling psychotherapy was helpful? Most important for this work, what happens to the therapeutic alliance when you exclude race in psychotherapy systems and clinical sessions?

Openness, honesty and directness are essential components in open dialogue with multicultural clients in order to maintain a relationship of value. Miller (2015) describes open dialogue as an atmosphere in which dialogue is engaged in an open fashion in a therapy session. It includes the creation of an intimate environment where challenges related to racial and ethnic factors can be openly discussed (p. 311). For example, when treating an African American client who experiences depression and concerns for her/his safety, a counselor could consider how living in an underserved neighborhood where crime may be rampant has an effect on how one would go about their day. The client may fear for their life frequently and perhaps protracted efforts to find a job have been unsuccessful. The specificity of race in these circumstances could be the determining factor in the client’s depression and safety concerns. If the same client suffered from addiction, the therapist could reflect on how being a part of a minority group with a history of being sidelined and discriminated against could have, in part, enabled the addiction as a method of coping with life stressors.

Pere Trahan & Lemberger (2014) potential African American clients could be reserved during at the beginning of counseling when the counselor is of a different race. Research has shown that counselors who address a client’s culture and diversity are more likely to have a better therapeutic alliance and better treatment outcomes (Trahan and Lemberger, 2014). Thus, making culture and ethnicity topics that should be addressed promptly with clients. Trahan & Lemberger (2014) suggest counselors encourage clients to use narrative storytelling to share their experiences with racism or discrimination. A counselor can benefit from hearing a client’s stories and gain an in depth understanding the client’s worldview and aid in selecting an intervention

In chapter thirty-five, Race, Gender, and Partnership in the Patient-Physician Relationship, Thomas A. LaVesit analyzes a study conducted to answer questions related to minority patients, minority physicians, and the race and gender concordance or discordance in the patient-physician relationship. The study used a baseline survey for a randomized clinical trial in which it evaluates interventions to improve the overall care of primary care patients with depression. The main independent variable for the study involved the patient’s race and ethnicity, also the physician’s race and ethnicity, and gender concordance or discordance in the patient-physicians relationship. The main dependent variable was PDM styled. In this study it was discovered

As we can see from Stephanie’s cultural immersion experience, it is very easy for people to have social biases and stereotypes of minority groups. As Stephanie learned, often times these beliefs are inaccurate and lack validity. Stephanie’s experience shows that the Latino population is one that is hard working, hospitable, and has a strong sense of family and community. What we take away from this experience is that counselors need to educate themselves as much as possible on the minority populations they will be working with. As counselors educate themselves about these minority groups, they will need to adjust their treatment methods and interventions to accommodate the world views of their clients. Counselors who do this will be better

The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients warns that diagnoses inhibit growth and creativity in therapy; even though, often times therapists are forced to label patients in order for their much needed care to be financed by insurance agency. Everyone seems to be looking for the quick fix with a diagnosis to medicate then push clients out after only a few sessions. However, it is expressed that no one is exempt from life’s ups and downs; therefore, clients and therapists should be seen as “fellow travelers”.

Lastly, racism is seen in the medical field. In “Assessment of Biases Against Latinos and African Americans Among Primary Care Providers and Community Members,” it was discovered that there is primarily implicit biases against minorities rather than explicit, and it is most commonly seen by members from the community (Blair et al., 2013). The study is presenting that racism is primarily implicitly illustrated than the usual explicit situations. There is still racism between health care providers, but it is much more common in the communities.

Most Hispanics do not have access to good mental health care (Hunt, Kreiner, & Rodriguez-Mejia, 2013). This may cause the client to look at a diagnostic label as a taboo. It is important that the counselor makes sure that the client’s knowledge of the diagnostic label sabotages the client’s progress in treatment (ACA, 2014, E.5.d). The process of labeling the client may prevent the counselor from building a rapport with the client. Going to a counselor may already be against one’s cultural and personal beliefs. It is important to help the client feel comfortable with the

People seeking for help in the hope that the “expert” will be able to provide solutions to their problems, and therapists must have the knowledge to help the client achieve this,but this doesn't mean that we have the solution or answers for all problems. Therapy requires effort and hard work from the client. And it could lead traversing potentially painful