Working With The Multi Cultural Population

As a therapist, each patient you see holds different beliefs and values that relate to the issues they deal with on a daily basis. The therapeutic relationship comes across an obstacle when the therapist encounters those of other race, culture, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In order to properly treat the patient, the therapist must be able to see the patient from an unbiased view. This can be done by clarifying his/her personal beliefs and values. After understanding his/her own values, the therapist is now aware of what they know or don’t know in the world and can draw a line between their own beliefs and values from those of the patients. In therapy, the patient will speak about various things going on in their life. Some of these topics may be looked down upon in society. The

The purpose of this paper is to examine the field of marriage and family counseling beginning with the history and development of the profession and its importance in the field of counseling. This paper will also evaluate five major themes relevant to Marriage and Family Therapy which include: roles of Marriage and Family Therapists; licensure requirements and examinations; methods of supervision; client advocacy; multiculturalism and diversity. The author will discuss significant aspects to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy such as MFT identity, function, and ethics of the profession. This paper will assess biblical values in relation to Marriage and Family Therapists and to the field

Gladding in chapters 3, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 16 looks at working with culturally diverse, therapeutic approaches of psychodynamic, Bowen, Structural, Solution-Focused and Narrative Family Therapies, the ethical, legal and professional issues in family therapy and working with substance related disorders, domestic violence and child abuse. Multiculturalism is a term used “to refer to distinct cultural groups within a region or nation and their needs” (p. 55). In providing family therapy to culturally diverse families, it is essential for one to develop “openness to diversity and cultural competence” (p. 56). Additionally, the success of family therapy in working with the culturally diverse is dependent on factors including that of sensitivity, experience, acceptance, ingenuity, specificity and intervention. Accordingly, the influence and importance of extended family and kinship ties are essential considerations for working with culturally diverse families. In working with gay and lesbian families, family therapists need to remain open, and aware of their beliefs and biases associated with gay and lesbian lifestyles. Likewise, with African American families, therapists need to have an understanding of multigenerational family systems, and address social and institutional issues such as racism, poverty and discrimination which have adversely affected African Americans.

Acculturation is “a process of giving up one's traditional cultural values and behaviors of the dominant social structure” (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2015, p. 457). From a client's perspective because they give up their own cultures and adapts to another may result in identity issues. Due to stereotyping, Counselors may not know how to address the culture change client has adapted to. Sue and Zane (2009) state the problem is when the therapist and others have the insufficient knowledge they do not take the take to get more information. Instead, they act on the insufficient knowledge and overgeneralize what they have learned about culturally dissimilar groups. Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan (2015) state that counselors should

There are many aspects of life that are confusing and difficult to understand. In a human being’s life, a metaphor can bring a topic or idea into a new light and make it more understandable. In this particular article, the author is using Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychosexual stages as a metaphor for a counselor’s development with their clients. The five psychosexual stages are first outlined from the generic standpoint of Freud’s theories. The article then continues to directly compare each stage with the counseling process and exactly how the two processes are similar. Alongside the comparison, the rest of the article outlines how a counselor should interact with their client. An overview of the psychosexual stages is critical to understand the connection between the stages and counseling (Garcia, 1995).

The effective Christ-centered counseling is founded upon a counselor’s loving and welcoming heart toward his or her counselee. Counselees with many different counseling issues such as divorce, abuse, depression, or anxiety approach their counselors with traumatic experiences and hurt. Therefore, the first step of successful counseling process is to establish an empathetical connection between a counselor and his or her counselee. However, when counseling a homosexual counselee, building this empathetical connection is a daunting task for a counselor with two major reasons.

Many counselors still have bias and operate with many misconceptions about the LGBT community. For example some counselors may unintentionally do things to cause micro-aggression towards their client, such as, assume a client is heterosexual (2013). Another way this can happen is by using heterosexual framework when working with LGBT clients (2013). Counselors may also have blatant bias such as not thinking their client will be good parents because they are a member of the LGBT community or trying to connivence the client to change sexual orientation .It is also noteworthy to note, that regardless of a counselors religious or spiritual beliefs, it is discrimination to not service members the LGBT community based off religious beliefs (Hermann & Barbara, 2006). The Supreme Court has even gone as far as to say, discrimination on the part of counselors, based upon religious beliefs, is unconstitutional (2006). Counselors who discriminate against clients are faced with losing their jobs and possible legal ramifications (2006). Counselors have an ethical obligation to service all clients even those who may have different belief systems (2006). As counselors encounter clients they feel they may have trouble working with or notice they may be unintentionally exhibiting micro-agression towards their clients, this is when supervision is necessary and helpful. Supervisors can help counselors seek out information to gain more knowledge about the minority groups they are fearful of working with

“The term culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) is commonly used to describe people who have a cultural heritage different from that of the majority of people from the dominant Anglo-Australian culture.” (childsafety 2010)

Firstly, during our group session, we discussed that some of the professional rehabilitation counselors’ culture and identity, have been founded on “counseling theories”, which most of them, have been developed in a western culture by white men. Members of the dominant culture are the developers of policies, laws and institutions and the power to construct hierarchies. Therefore, the goals and expectations of most counselors in The United States, reflect the values and standards of the majority society that are also reflected in the process of counseling.

In retrospect to how prevention intervention and consultation relate to each other in counseling are interwoven in society, behavioral and mental health. These modalities of counseling are necessary to reach and maintain goals that are both attainable and appropriate for clients that are facing challenging issues from substance abuse, family dysfunction, marital conflict in couples and individuals that are challenged by eating disorders, depression, racial and gender biases. These modalities are personal interactions with clients, families, communities and other multicultural groups in counseling that may run the risk of psychological dysfunctional it creates a negative impact on social populations. Therefore, it is important to implement

Jordan went to great efforts to shield Toni from nonmaleficence of people not accepting her sexual orientation. These efforts impede on Jordan professional judgment to advocating for a change in the community using a “developmental approach”. Counselors should facilitate community change by encouraging and helping clients make full use of community and indigenous support systems Corey, Corey, Corey, Callahan, 2015). Sometimes, clients in order to mitigate long-term harm people must experience short-term discomfort to obtain long-term cultural change and empower clients for future endeavors.

After doing research on the topic of Black Lives Matter I became interested in finding a way that could help people to better understand each other and the different cultures that make up our society today. I acknowledge the fact that there are some who may hold the view that All Lives Matter and respect their view but by covering the Black Lives Matter under such a broad veil does the movement an injustice by losing sight on the very thing they are fighting for the consistent ignoring of black lives. I also acknowledge that there are some who under the name of Black Lives Matter attack and brutally murder police officers and riot in the streets in the name of protest and I do not condone or make light of what they are doing, but I ask that you not ignore the good work that the Black Lives Matter movement has done and continues to do just because of the actions of a few misinformed individuals. Regardless of where you may stand on the issue we must find a common ground and come to a solution that is good for all people whether they are involved in the issue or not. One way we can accomplish this is to educate ourselves, and more specifically our youth, about the different cultures and the diversity of the people who lives alongside us.

The topic of culture, ethnicity and gender issues within psychology requires more attention; particularly, within the therapeutic setting. It was refreshing to see that finally, within this chapter these topics among other were finally being addressed in further depth than before. What was particularly striking in this week’s readings was the role of privilege and awareness.

Having considered the importance of training and literature, it is also reasonable to look at the significance of culture, gender and diversity in working with clients. For example, research has asserted that the intersections of racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, socioeconomic, age, religious, spiritual, and disability identities have important influences on mental health outcomes and health disparities (Conron, Mimiaga, & Landers, 2010; Hankivsky et al., 2010; Institute of Medicine, 2011). Just like cultural differences can affect the therapeutic relationship – and therefore the therapeutic process – both directly and indirectly. Yet, different cultural perspectives on health and healing, human relationships, and world views can result in the therapist and patient ‘talking past’ one another as there is no shared basis for communication.

Nowadays, globalisation has turned out to be a popular term. As business becomes more and more international, companies try to expand and do business in foreign countries. In order for them to adapt in the global market they need to gain an insight into the different cultures. Understanding a country 's business culture is a vital factor in setting up a successful business and communicating effectively. Cross-cultural awareness is a challenge for every international business person.