multicultural counseling Essay

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 Competency in Art Therapy Before I started my path to becoming an Art Therapist, one of my main concerns was how effective I would be when working with diverse client populations. As a heterosexual white woman who grew up in a mostly-white, conservative farming town in rural Iowa, most of my younger years of life were sheltered regarding multiculturalism. I have never faced the oppression that potential clients have faced. I have never feared for my life due to the color of my skin, the religion that I practice, or for loving who I love.

To ensure culturally competent practice, I would seek education, a consultation with a provider/expert who is competent in a given culture, use a culturally appropriate method/ instrument, design a culturally sensitive research, and provide a culturally sensitive as well as appropriate informed consent. I believe that it is important for a psychologist to engage in ongoing education to have up-to-date information in the field of psychology including multicultural psychology. The field is constantly changing and developing; thus, psychologists must be in the habit of seeking new information to serve their clients in an ethical manner. In addition to seeking new research and theoretical information, continuing education must include

This caused me to think about various aspects of cultural diversity that are fundamental while dealing with clients. The information I gathered was key to my path to becoming a culturally competent occupational therapist in various ways. First, the idea of viewing patients from culturally and linguistically diverse community from various perspectives is new to me, and I intend to incorporate it into strategies with my potential clients by taking each individual as unique and distinct from the other hence serving them better. Secondly, the information on cultural competency being a dynamic and complex process requiring continuous expansion of personal, cultural know-how and self-evaluation was new. I intended to incorporate this while dealing with potential clients by continuous interaction with people from distinct cultures to be acquainted with knowledge on how best to serve the needs of each person

In her article Siegel states that, “Incorporating components such as culturally framed trust building (such as pairing youths with mentors), stigma reduction, friendly milieus (such as serving culturally familiar foods and playing music popular with the culture), and services; and peer, family, and community involvement (including use of peer counselors and mentors, hosting parent weekends, and linking clients with senior center and community services) are recommended for improving cultural competence”, (Siegel, 2011). By incorporating some of these components into the way I practice and taking these components into mind could hopefully dissolve any limitations or biases that I may hold against any cultures. McBride also states the importance of being well versed in multicultural counseling by saying, “Counselor educators should also encourage self-reflection of counselor trainees to challenge the biases and assumptions they may hold against minority groups, such as the geriatric population. Self-awareness of biases and stereotypes is imperative when counseling diverse clients. This may be an uncomfortable process and, therefore, may cause some anxiety in both counselor trainees and counselor educators. As a result, some counseling programs may not emphasize self-reflection as much as they should. Therefore, greater emphasis needs to be placed on

Hickling, F.W. (2012). Understanding Patients in Multicultural Settings: A Personal Reflection on Ethnicity and Culture in Clinical Practice. Ethnicity & Health, 17(1/2), 203-216. Doi:10. 1080/ 13557858.2012 655266. Retrieved from: Ashford University Library

The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (2015) in section E.8. Multicultural Issues/Diversity in Assessment explains that clinicians need to be multiculturally aware of their clients needs and adjust their assessment so

Cultural diversity has different meaning to each and every one. Some of us considering cultural diversity to be acquired where for the others it’s a skill that they have to learn. It’s very important that the health care providers are knowledgeable and sensitive to cultural differences because they are the ones to deal with the patients of different background on a daily basis. Being cultural savvy will help them to give the best patient care. For that reason, health care workers must be especially aware that addressing cultural diversity goes above the values, beliefs, practices and customs. An outstanding medical professional has a good manner and makes patients feel comfortable and at ease during exams and treatments. Cultural knowledge is the skill to respond appropriately to people of different cultures, ages, races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and ethnicities, and embrace on the way that will allow a person to feel respected and valued. The article "Diversity & Cultural Competency in Health Care Settings" discusses diversity in health care environment, "A health care professional who has learned cultural competence engages in assistive, supportive, facilitative, or enabling acts that are tailor-made to fit with individual, group, or institutional, cultural values, beliefs, and life ways in order to provide quality health care. In other words, they demonstrate the attitudes and behaviors that enable them to effectively work with individuals with diverse

According to Benish, Quintana, and Wampold (2011) culturally adapted psychotherapy has outstanding results for ethnic and racial minority clients over traditional psychotherapy. This reinforces the thought of multiculturalism and its effectiveness to create true inclusion in America. To reach positive outcomes of counseling and psychology, there should be training with efforts to understand clients' beliefs.

I would agree it is culture is a very critical piece when we are diagnosing and finding appropriate treatment for both mentally ill and clinical medical care as well. Nevertheless, as we have come to learn the importance of being culturally competent, however, what I find interesting in this field of study is not so much the competence of cultural diversity, but the biases of both society and the hidden ignorance that subsciouncesous of healthcare professionals, especially the ones we work so closely with.

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).

Though many writers have argued that the importance of diversity and multicultural advantage does improve outcomes., this relationship was verified by the meta-analysis of Griner and Smith (2006) who found that interventions targeted to specific cultural groups were more effective than generic interventions provided to heterogeneous groups. Overall, James needs to broaden his understanding and knowledge when it comes to diverse populations and cultural awareness he needs to learn the importance of his ethical responsibility to all populations not just the cultures he is familiar and comfortable around. With a better understanding he can adapt to client interventions across spectrums that are significant to their future improvement and success. In other words, psychologists through their own self-refection should be able to provide quality services from a professional stance and perspective for all populations in order to ensure they are meeting the ethical standard outlines by the APA and

Stated in Ethnicity & Family Therapy (2005) the most important training for a counselor is to understand their own ethnic identity. As a counselor, if I am self-aware it will be less likely that I will become triggered by characteristics (beliefs, thoughts) that are different than my own. A multiethnic perspective allows me to understand values that are different than my own. I do not need to have others see or think as I do, or give up my own values in the process. “We learn about a culture not by learning the facts, but by changing our attitudes about cultural differences” (McGoldrick, et al, 2005).

In chapter 18 on page 435 of the book, it discusses a multicultural bill of rights. As a multicultural counselor, my question is what do you think about the bill of rights and would you consider this when working with clients? I believe in the resistance section because if you are multiracial you should not have to pick sides or have one picked for you. I believe in the revolution section about multiracial people being themselves and dating interracially. Since this was developed in 1996, I think interracial dating was a little more taboo than it is now in 2016 however. I also believe in the change section, where someone can change their identity over time and have their loyalties to more than one

Further exploring the program, the Commitment to Diversity statement is especially important to my morals and values. Being culturally competent is a never-ending, crucial process. Not only is cultural awareness, competence, and an understanding of diversity important in general, for marriage and family therapists this is necessary. This involves awareness of skills, knowledge, and attitudes across cultures and the ability to make appropriate decisions in practice. Being aware and cherishing diversity provides clients with the utmost respect, understanding,