Multicultural counseling

Last updated

Multicultural counseling is a type of counseling where the therapist addresses the struggles of a client whose race, gender, socioeconomic background, religion, or any other part of their identity doesn't fit in with the majority. Minorities have a history of dealing with racism and oppression, and in this lens, a counselor that doesn't take that information into account isn't able to effectively counsel. In the therapy session, the sociocultural environment of the individual and issues of power and privilege are given attention. This is a strengths based approach; counselors focus on positive change in both the process and the outcome. [1]

Contents

History

The 1950s is known to be the beginning of the multicultural counseling movement. During this time, this type of counseling was primarily used help assimilate minorities into the majority, but by the 1960s, counselors were told to not impose their beliefs onto their clients. When the Civil Rights Act was enacted, that helped bring light to the idea that cultural difference should be appreciated, and not assimilated into the majority.

In the 1970s, a language shift occurred and the counseling was called 'multicultural' or 'cross-cultural' instead of minority counseling. The 1980s and 1990s saw a lot of new studies and research on the importance of multicultural counseling and there was a new call to action for the field to be more aware of cultural issues that minorities face. [1]

Why people saw a need for multicultural counseling

Multicultural counselor competencies

In 1982, Sue published a paper that described how traditional counseling approaches were irrelevant to the minorities, and that there needs to be a push for new ways of counseling that are more appropriate to the culturally different. He realized that minority experiences have been analyzed from a Eurocentric point of view, and that the field needed universal competencies that all multicultural counselors should have, which are certain beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, and skills.

In 2017, the APA adopted 10 multicultural guidelines to give psychologists a universal framework for their services to minorities. In these guidelines, psychologists must:

  1. Understand that a person's identity is fluid and complex
  2. Know their own attitudes and beliefs can influence how they interact with and perceive others
  3. Realize how important communication is
  4. Understand how a client's social and physical environments can affect them
  5. Know how historical and present experiences can cause power, privilege and oppression dynamics
  6. Promote culturally adaptive interventions
  7. Utilize the fields assumptions within an international context
  8. Know how events in clients lives can intersect with more macro level sociocultural context and how it can impact the client's identity
  9. Do culturally appropriate research and experiments
  10. Use a strength based approach. [8]

Ways of assessing those competencies

The MAKSS (Multicultural awareness-knowledge-skills survey) consists of 60 items with 20 items for each Attitude, Knowledge and Skill area. The MCI (Multicultural Counseling Inventory) tests multicultural counseling skills, awareness, knowledge, and relationship. The MCKAS (Multicultural counseling knowledge and awareness scale) is an extension of MCAS and is a 32 item measure that tests general knowledge (just knowledge and awareness). [9] All three of these measures have strong reliability and validity. However, these are all self report measures. The first observer rating of multicultural competence was the CCCI (Cross cultural counseling Inventory). It was developed to see a counselors effectiveness with culturally diverse clients, awareness of socio political issues, and cultural sensitivity, and it also requires a supervisor to observe and rate students. [1] Revisions of these scales still take place. [9]

Multicultural Therapy In Action

American Indian and Alaska natives struggle with suicide and drug use than any other ethnic group. Psychologists have tried to use Western evidence based strategies on these groups, but it hasn't worked. More recently, psychologists have found out that a lot of the struggles are because they feel disconnected with their heritage and that previous practices haven't worked because they weren't using indigenous cultural practices to help them heal. [10] Four examples of psychologists using their multicultural competencies are presented:

Four innovative programs

1. Yup’ik Alaska native connections between the younger and older generations have declines, so psychologists developed an intervention called Gungasvik (translated to 'toolbox') where they teach the youth ancestral traditions. People in higher intensity condition of Gungasvik experienced more protection from suicide, and the youths reported higher levels of beliefs and experiences that made life enjoyable and meaningful. [10]

2. Psychologists implemented CBT in the White Mountain Apache tribe, but tribal representatives felt like something could be added: spirituality should be a part of the treatment. After that, instead of triangular CBT Model (thinking, feeling, doing), the model became a rectangle of thoughts, feelings, behavior and spirituality. Tribal members who have suicidal thoughts can meet with community mental health specialist who use traditional spiritual prayers and songs combined with recovery efforts, and the older tribe members talk to children about tribal values and take them on field trips to sacred sites. Suicide deaths in the tribe dropped 38 percent from 2006 to 2012. [10]

3. Nurses who were of Native American descent screened Cheyenne, Arapaho and other tribes for depression, alcohol misuse, tobacco use, etc. and would see the clients that same day. There was a good response in the tribe because they found that the clients liked talking to centers mental health professional because they understood their traditions and heritage. Sharing cultural knowledge allowed for trust, and as patients felt better they spread the word to other tribes about their positive experience. [10]

4. Great Plains Indians were emotionally scarred from seeing discrimination and sighs. The tribe is very communal so they thought they could benefit from group meetings that let them share discrimination and experience healing together. Interventions should address the family of the struggling individual since the family bond is a big part of their culture. Community members who stopped drinking were more engaged in cultural activities so a goal of the new program was to work with the community to make cultural activities more accessible. [10]

Recommendations for future research on multicultural counseling

Multicultural counseling is still a new lens for counseling and is in need of future research. Some areas of future research include using real clients and real counseling scenarios, using qualitative research, research that explores all the roles a multicultural counselor needs, and research that assesses the client, counselor and supervisor in multicultural counseling and training. [11]

Related Research Articles

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome problems. Psychotherapy aims to improve an individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to improve relationships and social skills. Numerous types of psychotherapy have been designed either for individual adults, families, or children and adolescents. Certain types of psychotherapy are considered evidence-based for treating some diagnosed mental disorders; other types have been criticized as pseudoscience.

Clinical psychology is an integration of human science, behavioral science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development. Central to its practice are psychological assessment, clinical formulation, and psychotherapy, although clinical psychologists also engage in research, teaching, consultation, forensic testimony, and program development and administration. In many countries, clinical psychology is a regulated mental health profession.

Counseling psychology is a psychological specialty that began with a focus on vocational counseling, but later moved its emphasis to adjustment counseling, and then expanded to cover all normal psychology psychotherapy. There are many subcategories for counseling psychology, such as marriage and family counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, educational counseling, etc. In each setting, they are all required to follow the same guidelines.

Online counseling is a form of professional mental health counseling that is generally performed through the internet. Computer aided technologies are used by the trained professional counselors and individuals seeking counseling services to communicate rather than conventional face-to-face interactions. Online counseling is also referred to as teletherapy, e-therapy, cyber therapy, or web counseling. Services are typically offered via email, real-time chat, and video conferencing. Some clients use online counseling in conjunction with traditional psychotherapy, or nutritional counseling. An increasing number of clients are using online counseling as a replacement for office visits.

Cultural competence, also known as intercultural competence, is a range of cognitive, affective, behavioural, and linguistic skills that lead to effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures. Intercultural or cross-cultural education are terms used for the training to achieve cultural competence.

A licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) is a professional who has been qualified to provide psychotherapy and other counselling services. LCPCs are trained to work with individuals, families, and groups to treat mental, behavioural and emotional problems and disorders. The main goal of LCPCs is to use counselling strategies to help people live a more satisfying life, which typically involves identifying a goal and finding potential solutions.

Gay affirmative psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy for non-heterosexual people, specifically gay and lesbian clients, which focuses on client comfort in working towards authenticity and self-acceptance regarding sexual orientation, and does not attempt to "change" them to heterosexual, or to "eliminate or diminish" same-sex "desires and behaviors". The American Psychological Association (APA) offers guidelines and materials for gay affirmative psychotherapy. Affirmative psychotherapy affirms that homosexuality or bisexuality is not a mental disorder, in accordance with global scientific consensus. In fact, embracing and affirming gay identity can be a key component to recovery from other mental illnesses or substance abuse. Clients whose religious beliefs are interpreted as teaching against homosexual behavior may require some other method of integration of their possibly conflicting religious and sexual selves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural sensitivity</span> Knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures

Cultural sensitivity, also referred to as cross-cultural sensitivity or cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities. It is related to cultural competence, and is sometimes regarded as the precursor to the achievement of cultural competence, but is a more commonly used term. On the individual level, cultural sensitivity is a state of mind regarding interactions with those different from oneself. Cultural sensitivity enables travelers, workers, and others to successfully navigate interactions with a culture other than their own.

Derald Wing Sue is a professor of counseling psychology at Columbia University. He has authored several books, including Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice, Overcoming our Racism, and Understanding Abnormal Behavior.

Feminist psychology is a form of psychology centered on social structures and gender. Feminist psychology critiques historical psychological research as done from a male perspective with the view that males are the norm. Feminist psychology is oriented on the values and principles of feminism.

Cultural humility is the “ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other-oriented in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the [person].” Cultural humility is different from other culturally-based training ideals because it focuses on self-humility rather than being an other-directed "they/them" way of achieving a state of knowledge or awareness. It is helpful to see as others see; what they themselves have determined is their personal expression of their heritage and their “personal culture”. Cultural humility was formed in the physical healthcare field and adapted for therapists, social workers, and medical librarians, to learn more about experiences and cultural identities of others and increase the quality of their interactions with clients and community members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural competence in healthcare</span> Health care services that are sensitive and responsive to the needs of diverse cultures

Cultural competence in healthcare refers to the ability for healthcare professionals to demonstrate cultural competence toward patients with diverse values, beliefs, and feelings. This process includes consideration of the individual social, cultural, and psychological needs of patients for effective cross-cultural communication with their health care providers. The goal of cultural competence in health care is to reduce health disparities and to provide optimal care to patients regardless of their race, gender, ethnic background, native languages spoken, and religious or cultural beliefs. Cultural competency training is important in health care fields where human interaction is common, including medicine, nursing, allied health, mental health, social work, pharmacy, oral health, and public health fields.

Clinical mental health counseling is a healthcare profession addressing issues such as substance abuse, addiction, relational problems, stress management, as well as more serious conditions such as suicidal ideation and acute behavioral disorders. Practitioners may also assist with occupational growth in neurodivergent populations and behavioral and educational development. Clinical mental health (CMH) counselors include psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health technicians, marriage counselors, social workers, and family therapists.

The American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct includes an introduction, preamble, a list of five aspirational principles and a list of ten enforceable standards that psychologists use to guide ethical decisions in practice, research, and education. The principles and standards are written, revised, and enforced by the APA. The code of conduct is applicable to psychologists in a variety of areas across a variety of contexts. In the event of a violation of the code of conduct, the APA may take action ranging from termination of the APA membership to the loss of licensure, depending on the violation. Other professional organizations and licensing boards may adopt and enforce the code.

Joseph G. Ponterotto is an American psychologist, author and professor. He is currently a tenured professor of counselling psychology and the Coordinator of the Mental Health Counseling Program at Fordham University's Graduate School of Education. He is a licensed psychologist and mental health counsellor, as well as a psychobiographer and multicultural consultant. His research interests are in acculturation, racism, immigration, multicultural counselling and education, qualitative/quantitative research methods including scale development, the history of psychology, and psychobiography.

Ethical guidelines for treating trauma survivors can provide professionals direction to enhance their efforts. Trauma survivors have unique needs and vary in their resilience, post-traumatic growth, and negative and positive outcomes from their experiences. Numerous ethical guidelines can inform a trauma-informed care (TIC) approach.

Rosemary Elaine Phelps is an American counseling psychologist whose work has focused on racial identity and the race-related stress experienced by racially diverse students and faculty in higher education. She is known for her advocacy and mentoring of students and faculty of color and her commitment to training counseling psychologists to be culturally responsive and competent. Phelps is Professor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Service Courses in the Department of Human Counseling and Services at the University of Georgia.

Stanley Sue is a clinical psychologist known for his contributions to the field of multicultural studies, specifically in relation to the mental health issues of ethnic minorities and the need for cultural competence in the treatment of psychological disorders. Sue is a Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University. His work is often cited in discussions about the educational achievements of Asian Americans and the model minority stereotype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Cokley</span> American academic and author

Kevin Cokley is an African-American counselling psychologist, academic and researcher. He is University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Associate Chair of Diversity Initiatives, Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Previously he was the Oscar and Anne Mauzy Regents Professor of Educational Research and Development, Department Chair of Educational Psychology, and Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he directed the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis. He was a Fellow of the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers and a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lillian Comas-Díaz</span> Psychologist and Professor

Lillian Comas-Díaz is an American psychologist and researcher of multiethnic and multicultural communities. She was the 2019 winner of American Psychological Association (APA) Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology. In 2000, she received the APA Award for Distinguished Senior Career Contribution to the Public Interest.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gelso, Charles J.; Williams, Elizabeth Nutt; Fretz, Bruce R. (2014). Counseling psychology (Third ed.). Washington, D.C. ISBN   978-1-4338-1711-3. OCLC   861788982.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ↑ Sue, Derald Wing; Arredondo, Patricia; McDavis, Roderick J. (1992). "Multicultural Counseling Competencies and Standards: A Call to the Profession". Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. 20 (2): 64–88. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1912.1992.tb00563.x. ISSN   2161-1912.
  3. ↑ D'ANDREA, MICHAEL; DANIELS, JUDY; HECK, RONALD (1991-09-10). "Evaluating the Impact of Multicultural Counseling Training". Journal of Counseling & Development. 70 (1): 143–150. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1991.tb01576.x. ISSN   0748-9633.
  4. 1 2 Wang, Li-fei; Heppner, P. (2012), "Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Developing Cross-Cultural Competencies and Yuan-Fen", Essentials of Cross-Cultural Counseling, SAGE Publications, pp. 207–226, doi:10.4135/9781452275505.n8, ISBN   978-1-4129-9950-2
  5. ↑ Arredondo, Patricia; Toporek, Rebecca; Brown, Sherlon Pack; Jones, Janet; Locke, Don C.; Sanchez, Joe; Stadler, Holly (1996). "Operationalization of the Multicultural Counseling Competencies". Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. 24 (1): 42–78. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1912.1996.tb00288.x. ISSN   2161-1912.
  6. ↑ Boysen, Guy A.; Vogel, David L. (May 2008). "The relationship between level of training, implicit bias, and multicultural competency among counselor trainees". Training and Education in Professional Psychology. 2 (2): 103–110. doi:10.1037/1931-3918.2.2.103. ISSN   1931-3926.
  7. ↑ Ratts, Manivong J.; Singh, Anneliese A.; Nassar-McMillan, Sylvia; Butler, S. Kent; McCullough, Julian Rafferty (January 2016). "Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies: Guidelines for the Counseling Profession". Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. 44 (1): 28–48. doi:10.1002/jmcd.12035. ISSN   0883-8534.
  8. ↑ "Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality, 2017". apa.org. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  9. 1 2 Ponterotto, Joseph G.; Gretchen, Denise; Utsey, Shawn O.; Rieger, Brian P.; Austin, Richard (2002). "A Revision of the Multicultural Counseling Awareness Scale". Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. 30 (3): 153–180. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1912.2002.tb00489.x. ISSN   2161-1912.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "The healing power of heritage". apa.org. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  11. ↑ Pope-Davis, D. B. (2001). "What's missing from multicultural competency research: Review, introspection, and recommendations. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology". APA Psych Net. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.