The Importance of Being Able to Work with Multicultural Groups

In our society today, culture is not what it used to be hundreds of years ago. There is no more “pure” culture. Our culture today is enriched with many different traditions and customs that are being shared and adopted. Due to emigration and immigration, a variety of diverse customs, beliefs, and knowledge moved with every exiting and entering human being. Thus, changing and shaping the culture of many. Throughout the world, the beliefs and religious views of culture are dissimilar around the world. By taking the time to read, listen and learn about certain people’s culture, there will be knowledge and understanding that will be gained.

Guideline 1: Psychologists are encouraged to recognize that, as cultural beings, they may hold attitudes and beliefs that can detrimentally influence their perceptions of and interactions with individuals who are ethnically and racially different from themselves (American Psychological Association, 2003). I agree that psychologist can hold many different beliefs concerning others. The beliefs can sometimes hinder a person from growing emotionally, and cognitively. In my opinion it is important for the professional to be familiar with the diversity that may exist in their patients and remain professional in their

This helped in eliminating bias through reduced sampling error. The sample of 20 practitioners as well as 20 consultants appears to be too small and unrepresentative. There are too many consultants and practitioners in the field today to be represented by a group of only 20 individuals. Again, the sample represented the population in the New England Metropolitan area. This created bias in the representation as it only represents a single area. On the other hand, the sample waa a nice blend of representatives from different groups including men and women, white, Latino, Asians, and blacks. Though not in equal numbers, the good representation helped eliminate bias a both the possible oppressors as well a those oppressed were represented hence each group could contribute its views. The study also considered experts in the interviews.. this a great advantage to the study as experts have a good understanding in combined or specific knowledge. They understand the process, strategies as well as group behaviors. The interviewer recorded the interviews on tape. This was an advantage to the study as it gave an accurate summary of the interview. Comments and information gathered were stored for reference. Through repeated listening, it must have been easy for the interviewing committee to get interview clarity and analyze speech, body language, and voice

From the reading on page 254 in chapter 9 of Becoming a Multicultural Educator, by William A. Howe and Penelope L. Lisi, there are myths stated about the failure of bilingual students and bilingual education. In table 9.2 on page 254 it is stated that, “it is a myth that all immigrant groups were successful [with learning the English language]. There were many low-skilled entry-level jobs that did not require advanced language skills.” My question is what is the considered success for immigrants learning the English language? Would it be considered successful if an immigrant learned enough English to obtain a job and earn a living within the United States or does an immigrant need to meet a specific level of mastery in the eyes of educators

Since Bobby is Hispanic, comes from a poor upbringing, did not finish his education, and is unable to hold a job as an adult; treatment must be dealt with according to his ethics and culture. Information found under the APA Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Resolutions the discussion of proper procedure in ethnic background treatment and diversity (APA, 2010). The recommendation of a Hispanic psychologist will only assist in allowing Bobby to open up to treatment. The cultural similarities will assist in Bobby understanding that his parent’s life style was not appropriate; and if he continues on the same path he will not change the cycle that has caused him so much pain. Any language difference would be more accommodated with a Hispanic psychologist (APA, 2010). At this time Bobby has been able to correspond on an pragmatic level of English that was understandable. The treatment plan laid out for Bobby under Research and Evaluation allows for civil commitment. This will give Bobby time to gain control of the substance abuse and take control of the trauma from his past. The Hispanic intervention will allow for a more comforting environment. This part is important because Bobby suffered from abuse and neglect from his parents (Zalta, et al., 2014). His desire was to please his mother, no matter her requests. Although he now understands that instead of his parent’s protection he was abused and left

Some may ask what it means to be a part of a specific culture. It may be believed that it merely means to share the same qualities of race, language, and social beliefs. What is not really known are the rise of expectations to fill, repressed wants and needs, or even the binding religious beliefs. A person must begin to recognize the holdings a culture may have on them and how it affects their free will as an individual.

In the Iceberg model of culture, the above portion represents visible, or observable cultural characteristics. Observable ethnic characteristics in the Mexican live can be actions and formal lessons learned through experience. For example, the food we eat, the music we dance to, and the greeting rituals we perform can be part of the visible portion of the Iceberg. To an extent, the visible ethnic characteristics can affect my values and beliefs. For instance, the actions I take in front of others can be guided by food and music preferences and the surrounding environment. On the other hand, to fully understand the Hispanic cultural aspects, you must also comprehend that the above portion of the Iceberg is merely an external expression of the deeper and explicit factors of culture.

Research has found that Asian Americans seeking mental health treatment have a high dropout rate largely as a result of not being matched ethnically or linguistically with mental health professionals (Wang & Kim, 2010). Participant values acculturation has been found to be positively correlated with participant ratings of the counseling process, whereas the value of emotional self-control was found to be negatively associated (Wang & Kim, 2010). Similarly, a significant relationship has been established between multicultural competence and client-perceived working alliance and empathy thus implying the prospect that multicultural competence may have a component that is of more in-depth alliance and empathy (Wang & Kim, 2010). Studies have supported the “belief that student’s attitudes and beliefs about racial issues are an important part of multicultural competency development” (Ottavi, Pope-Davis & Dings, 1994, p.153).

How I plan to pursue my multicultural competence in my future counseling is by volunteering at local agencies that target populations I am not familiar with. Furthermore, I will be a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and attend multicultural trainings/meetings at my job site. Other ways to further my education would be subscribing to the magazine/becoming a member of the Counseling Today, which is a part of the ACA. In this magazine, it discusses updated information about counseling the diverse and training programs that are available for professionals in the community. The last counseling association that will assist me throughout my career is the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). After graduating with

Growing up, I was surrounded by a juxtaposition of numerous cultures due to the fact that my dad is from Bangladesh, my mom is from India, my family is in the Middle East, and my childhood is rooted in a diverse area where I am surrounded by no one like myself. My family would joke about how I was culturally confusing, as I shifted my perspective and filtered my communication almost effortlessly in order to adapt to my environment, however, to me, analyzing those discrepancies between cultures and traditions dazzled me rather than dizzying me.

In the article “The relationship between mindfulness and multicultural counseling competence” the authors Ivers, Johnson, Clarke, Newsome, and Berry wanted to examine the implications of the association between Mindfulness and Multicultural Counseling Competence (MCC) on counselor’s education and practice. They describe MCC as the effectiveness of a counselor when providing therapy to a client from a different culture. A counselor who seeks information about other cultures is known to have multicultural knowledge, which will help him/her acquire multicultural awareness at the time of treating a client.

Normally we look at other culture and try to understand them. But surprisingly in this week’s class I found it interesting how important to take a look at my culture and myself first. My understanding and judgment of other people are based on my perception about them. In working across culture we should realize that our beliefs, expectations and assumptions are not the same as

Isn’t it fascinating how all human race looks alike, has same biological form, is created and born same way, but yet completely different in how we do things or how we behave inside our cultures and ethnicities? Culture presents the sum of attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another. Culture is transmitted, through language, material objects, ritual, institutions, and art, from one generation to the next (Hirsch, Kett & Trefil, 2002).

from the context of the personal culture of the client (Sue, Arrendondo & McDavis, 1994; Sue &

To sum up the points, it can be perceived that in order to understand the concept of personal cultural diversity, the different aspects of one’s lifestyle must be examined and determined in order to point out individual differences in a particular group or society. This is because each individual has different genetic make-up,