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To provide competent care to a client, the therapist has to be culturally prepared to work with the client. To be culturally competent as a therapist I have to be aware of my own bias, my identity, and my values in regards of my culture. I also need to be aware of the judgments that I have about the client’s cultural identity. In order to know the client’s culture, I would inquire about the identity during the intake. I would use the Addressing model by Pamela Hays to inquire the cultural identity of my clients. The addressing model helps to consider the various social categories that a client belongs to. Also, providing culturally competent services is to be aware of the population surrounding the therapist’s office or agency in order to

Each client is influenced by race, ethnicity, national origin, life stage, educational level, social class, and sex roles (Ibrahim, 1985). The counsellor must view the identity and development of culturally diverse people in terms of multiple interactive factors rather than a strictly cultural framework (Romero, 1985).

Cultural competency is critical in psychology practice. In the United States, the groups, which considered as cultural and ethnic minorities, are growing in the population (APA, 2003). Culture often influences the content and quality of people’s experience, perception, and response. Thus, it is important for psychologists to be aware of cultural influences on client’s presenting experience(s) (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2010). Without a regard for cultural influence, there is a significant risk for the psychologist to misunderstand, misinterpret, and misguide his or her client. Such misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and misguidance are not only unhelpful but can be detrimental for the client (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2011; Pope, & Vasquez, 2011).

The importance of a cross-cultural understanding in Psychology is imperative to successful care and assistance of mental health. Understanding and acknowledging the complexities of different cultures is the beginning of a more informed approach to mental health. Cultural factors and questions play a fundamental role, however, simply acknowledging cultural differences does not necessarily provide the best individual help. Thus, a combination of cultural, demographic and individual factors are crucial initial steps to specific individual assistance. Treating individuals in context can help discern deviations from cultural factors and norms. Therefore an approach which recognises that both culture and specificity to the client is most effective. Knowing someone’s background can be fundamental to clinical help but could also reinforce cultural stereotypes, this overly simplistic view could be detrimental to treatment. Throughout this essay the impact of culture on mental health will be examined, and how the health care provider and client mediate a relationship to produce the most effective results.

I am committed to embracing cultural diversity and social responsibility in my counseling practice (Corey, et al., 2015, p. 112). I am committed to my own cultural competency and, although I am not perfect, I am open to learning and growth (p. 118). I invite you to challenge my assumptions. Many therapy approaches reflect Western patriarchal values that do not fit the needs of all cultural perspectives (p. 117-118). I consider your disclosure of personal information to be an important aspect of therapy, but I will encourage you to self-disclose according to your own timeline, not mine (p. 120). Some people hesitate to speak due to respect and cultural norms, so I encourage you to let me know when I am being too direct or assertive in my questions (p. 122). Therapy sometimes assumes a goal of individualization, buy I realize this might not be your goal, so I am open to exploring issues of collective responsibility as well as self-actualization (p. 123). Finally, I come from a Western cultural orientation, both personally and professionally, and am often unconscious of my nonverbal behaviors, so I encourage you to let me know when I treat you disrespectfully in my use of eye contact, facial expression, or gestures, or when my interventions feel uncomfortably personal or intrusive (p. 123). “Recognizing our own cultural and historical embeddedness can remind us that our assumptions about what a person is and what a person should be or become

“Cultural Awareness in The Human Services Multi-Ethnic Approach” proposes that as a minimum, a model for culturally responsive social and health services would require us to do the following: 1. Define a model of cross-cultural social work and caring services – the model has to be systematic and take into consideration cultural complexity and also ethnocentric features of the clients served. 2. Describe how the model is applicable to any cross-racial or cross-ethnic relationships. 3.

Cultural competence can become an ethical issue when a clinician is unaware the sensitivity of the clients in which the clinician is providing counseling. A great example from Chp. 4 is the case of the (indian; words means more than action). An effective preparation for counselor to deal with cultural competence-ethical issue is to familiarize with the demographic area where the counselor is practicing. Further, the counselor should learn more of the dominate ethnicities in their demographic areas that way the counselor is well prepared for cultural diversity counseling.

In the video related to culture of emotions two important questions were raised. The first question was why has this happened to me and the second was why now? This was a very powerful way to open the video and lead to a great discussion of the DSM-IV cultural formation piece. In watching this video the first implication that I could see for myself how not knowing enough about specific cultures and the possible need for a cultural consultant. This video described that cultures have narrative structures and that sometimes we need a cultural consultant to help tell a client’s story overall. I believe that this is a very important piece of multicultural counseling without understanding a clients culture we cannot understand the client.

The changing landscape of the United States means that as social workers entering the profession we need to learn to work with increasingly diverse populations. Knowing this, it is important that as social workers we are aware of how the unique aspects an individual’s culture and identity play in the way they view mental health. Increasing awareness of the interactions between future clients and their place within society is of equal importance in addressing the needs of the client. As social workers, it is necessary that when interviewing clients questions are carefully selected to elicit culturally relevant information while maintaining cultural sensitivity.

In a multicultural counseling perspective there are four key approaches when counseling individuals, (a) multicultural awareness of culturally learned assumptions about self and others leading to accurate assessments of clients, (b) multicultural knowledge of information, (c) multicultural skills and interventions, that are appropriate treating clients, and (d) individuals are from a variety of backgrounds, demographic status, and affiliation of cultures. The three-stage approach, will direct the counselor towards levels of multicultural competence in therapy by providing a successful outcome in the recovery process. When conducting a psychotherapy session with a client the counselor should be able to demonstrate skills, when exploring the client’s cultural background. Counselors should also be able to focus on the essential skills and pattern behaviors, when identifying cultural differences. Counseling a minority from a different culture counselors’ must be able to identify their own personal behaviors. These behaviors are crucial when counseling these individuals. First, a counselor must be able to sense the clients’ viewpoint or issue in some way. Secondly, a counselor should be specific when asking a question rather than being unclear and confusing.

Counselors who are unaware of diverse cultural viewpoints are more than likely to do intentional or unintentional damage when working within communities opposite of their own and with those whose cultures and worldviews differ from theirs. If a counselor is unaware of their own cultural identity, biases, and stereotypes, how then will they know if they are unintentionally causing harm to their clients or build rapport? Cultural self-awareness is relevant because counselors need to know their cultural identity and what they must offer their clients in a therapeutic relationship and to help clients become aware their cultural identities.

Thus far in the course we have learned how important it is to have basic knowledge on various cultures that we may encounter as therapists. According to Choudhuri, Santiago-Rivera, & Garrett (2012), culture is defined as the personification of a worldview through learned and transmitted beliefs, religious and spiritual traditions, psychological processes, values, and practices. Moreover, it is a way of life that is shaped by ecological, historical, economic, and political factors on a specific group of people (Choudhur et al., 2012). I have learned culture goes beyond just race and ethnicity. Culture can be seen in the way people dress, the type of food they eat, the medicines they use, their religious practices, the people they chose to

The relationship between the therapist and client are also socio-culturally influenced. The therapist provides stability and wellness to the therapist-client relationship. The therapist has to apperceive cultural diversity and understand it depending on the client’s cultural values and credence. When a therapist misunderstands the cultural beliefs and the client’s background; their relationship will be negatively affected. Therapists do not impose their own cultural notions onto their client’s cultural values and notions; they do analyze all concepts and practices to provide the best care to their client’s (Stevens

Many clinical psychologists are surrounded by individuals from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and who ascribe to different cultures. Therefore, it is essential for psychologists to be comfortable and competent when working with and treating diverse individuals. ial for psychologists to be competent and comfortable while workinAlthough I have only been in the mental health field for a short time, I have worked with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities. Similarly, I have obtained several unique personal experiences that helped demonstrate the importance of understanding different cultures. Therefore, the remainder of this statement will highlight several influential cultural experiences, as well as the influence those experiences had on my ability to work with and conceptualize clients.

Human cultural diversity is important for counselors to recognize and understand. Furthermore, due to the wide spanning cultural variances between cultures. Counselors should seek to understand some of the key psychological issues and recommended therapeutic approaches for that culture. For example, in Asian cultures family identity is far more important that the western ideology of individualism. Or there could be some culture assimilation issues within the generational structure of the family. Such as the older generation does not what their Asian culture to be lost to western culture for the younger generations. To truly be effective in counseling clients whom are Asian you may need an understand that individual’s family environment as well.