Chapter 4: Counseling in a Multicultural Society

Culture

any group of people who identify or associate with one another on the basis of some common purpose, need, or similarity of background"
-management, organizations. Culture can make or break your experience.

Multiculturalism

has no distinct definition, but the most prominent foci are distinct group uniqueness and concepts that facilitate attention to individual differences

Muticultural Counseling

counseling in which the counselor and client differ. There are two perspectives

Multicultural counseling perspectives

Etic Perspective and Emic Perspective

Etic Perspective

stating universal qualities exist in counseling that are culturally generalizable
-The counselor approach is applicable to the majority of people

Emic Perspective*

assumes counseling approaches must be designed to be culturally specific
-the counselor takes into account different cultural backgrounds
-you treat teens different than elders
-you have to either educate yourself or hand them off to a different counselor

Development of Canadian Society

-Aboriginal
-Charter groups
-Racial/ethnic minorities

Multicultural Counselling - the focus

Emphasis on client (1950s), to
Emphasis on counselor (1960s), to
The total counseling process (1970s - present)

Culturally Encapsulated Counselor

one who disregards cultural differences and works under the mistaken assumption that theories and techniques are equally applicable to all people"
Etic Perspective

Multicultural Competence

the extent to which counselors possess appropriate levels of self-awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds
Emic Perspective

Overculturalizing

mistaking people's reactions to poverty and discrimination for their cultural pattern"
-people of different ethnicities struggle with poverty and homelessness but we can't automatically assume that it is part of their culture
-connect different communiti

Language Patterns

contribute to overculturalizing, as counselors outside the client's own culture may misunderstand verbal utterances or nonverbal behaviors of the client.
-familiarize yourself with nonverbal and verbal cues

Racism

prejudice displayed in blatant or subtle ways due to recognized or perceived differences in the physical and psychological backgrounds of people

Acculturation

the process by which a group of people give up old ways and adopt new ones
-immigrants who come to Canada

Acculturation on the client- the impact

psychological stress, guilt, apathy, depression, delinquency, resentment, disorientation, poor self esteem

culturally sensitive areas

1)Knowledge
2)Awareness- of your own worldview and how ones a product of cultural conditioning
3)Skills

Competency Model

1, 2, 3, and Social Justice

Cultural -Infused Counselling Competence

the integration of attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, and skills, essential for awareness of the impact of culture on personal assumptions, values, and beliefs, understanding of the worldview of the client, coming to agreement on goals and tasks in the co

effective counseling across cultures - 5 guidelines

1 Counselors recognize the values and beliefs they hold in regard to acceptable and desirable human behavior, and integrate this understanding into appropriate feelings and behaviors.
2. Counselors are aware of the cultural and generic qualities of counse

Cultural Bias

the tendency to think one's own culture is superior to others. This can be present in majority and minority counselors.
*self awareness

Counseling considerations with specific cultural groups

-must remain themselves
-There are more within group differences than between group differences in counseling people from specific cultural traditions-- categorizing people ***

Medicine Wheel

every seeker can find a harmonious way of living with their environment.

Four Powers

4 natural forces
North- Wisdom
South- Warmth & Growth
West- Introspection
East- Englightenment

Ceremonies and elders

religious expression passed down from elders
older individuals with gifts of wisdom, healing, and dream interpretation

Traditions: Pipes and pipe ceremonies

pipe belongs to the community and is use for prayers, sacred ceremony
whoever holds pipes can speak.

Sweat Lodges

Communal prayer, spiritual healing, purification, and fasting

Rattles

shake to summon a spirit for spiritual/physical purpose

Drums

Signifies the heart beat of the group/pulse of the universe.

Eagle Whistles

When the whistle is blown the drunk group begins an appropriate song

Herbs and incense tradition

sweetgrass, sage, cedar, and tobacco.

South Asian Canadians

-4% of population
-East Indians (74%), Pakistani, Sri LAnkan, Punajbi, and Tamil
-Religions: Muslim, hindu, and Sikh

Approaches with South Asian Canadians

-rigid gender roles= stress on high acculturation on women.
-high demands on labor inside and outside the home causing anxiety, depression, and loneliness
-less likely to seek help - how they regard their issues make them less likely to seek a counselor
-

Acculturation Stresses of South Asian Canadians

discuss values, beliefs/behaviours that characterize their culture and host culture - what does/doesn't fit and what is ambivalent

Techniques counselor's use on South Asian Canadians

CBT, solution focused, gestalt methods, reframing, parent education, speed of counseling may cause termination of counseling

Southeast Asian Canadians

Chinese, japanese, filipinos, indochinese, indians, and koreans
-hardworking and successful
-not prone to emotional disturbances
-less likely to seek counseling
-communication is indirect
-strong control over emotions

Approaches with Southeast Asian Canadians

-psychological distress/disorders through a religious framework
-somatic complains
-career counseling- self interest +deference
-collectivist culture
-promotion of self disclosure

Approaches: Healing

invoking the help of supernatural power or restoring the sufferer to a state of well-being through prescribing right conduct and belief

Approaches with African Canadians

-identity expectations
-racial identity-impact of discrimination on client
-establish egalitarian r/s- equal status
-focus on pragmatics- practical education vs. feelings
-focus on strengths and context- person in environment
-spiritual ressources
-buildi

Approaches with Latino Canadians

-reluctant to seek counseling- cultural traditions (pride) and heritage
-accessibility of services- often living in poverty
-expectations of counselors
-Filial Therapy
-counselor should be bilingual.

Approaches with Arab Canadians

-delineation of gender roles
-awareness of patriarchal patterns
-emphasis on important of honor and shame
-acccess groups for support

Multicultural Counseling

viewed generally as counseling in which the counselor and client differ
-differences may be a result of socialization in a unique cultural way, development or traumatic life events, or the product of being raised in a particular environment

Multicultural Competence

the extent to which counselors possess appropriate levels of self-awareness, knowledge, and skills in working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds

Acculturation

the process by which a group of people give up old ways and adopt new ones
-in this process, individuals are simultaneously being influenced by elements of two distinct cultures to some extent
-not easy

.

.

knowledge

of world views of culturally different clients

awareness

of one's own personal worldview and how one is a product of cultural conditioning

skills

necessary for work with culturally different clients

Within group vs. Between group

There are more within-group differences than between-group differences in counseling people from specific cultural traditions.

White Privilege

reward that is not based on merit and is often ignored by those who have it, which can cause them to neglect or be prejudiced to those who are not the same as them
-attitudes of superiority from majority cultures

Racial micro-aggressions

actions that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults to the target person or group
-the power they have to hurt has to do with their invisible nature

Three forms of racial micro-agressions

1. microassaults
2. microinsults
3. microinvalidations

microassaults

similar to old-fashioned racism and are deliberate, conscious, and overt, such as refusing to serve someone because of the color of the person's skin

microinsults

verbally, nonverbally, or environmentally demean a person's racial identity of heritage, such as "You are a credit to your race

microinvalidations

actions that exclude, negate, or nullify psychological thoughts, feelings or experiences of a person, such as being ignored or served last

Model minority stereotype

Asian Americans because they are collectively described as hardworking and successful and not prone to mental or emotional disturbances
-glosses over the real social, economic, and psychological problems experienced by Asian Americans.

highest school dropout rate?

Native American Indians

Ethnic diversity makes up about 35% of USA population including: African-Americans, Native American Indians, Asian Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos

...

Factors that influence the counseling of cultural and ethnic groups include:

o Understanding client's identity
o Education
o Age
o Religion
o Socioeconomic status
o Experiences with racism

ADRESSING Model

o Age/generational
o Disability
o Religion
o Ethnicity/race
o Social status
o Sexual orientation
o Indigenous heritage
o National origin
o Gender

Mental health facilities: minority who enter counseling 50% terminate after one session compared to 30% of terminations in the majority population.

...

Culture

o Ethnographic variables
o Demographic variables
o Status variables

Ethnographic variables

ethnicity, nationality, religion, and language

Demographic variables

age, gender, place of residence

Status variables

social, economic, and educational background, formal and informal memberships and affiliations

Culture

any group of people who identify or associate with one another on the basis of some common purpose, need, or similarity of background

Shared elements of culture:

o Learned experiences
o Beliefs
o Values

Culture

o Similar physical features
o Common history and philosophy
o Combination of the above

Multicultural Counseling

counseling "in which the counselor and client differ".
Differences may be cultural, life events, or ethnic environments.

Etic perspective

universal qualities exist in counseling that are culturally generalizable.

Emic perspective

counseling approaches must be designed to be culturally specific.

Emic approaches - 2 conditions common to any type of counseling treatment

1. Therapeutic relationship
2. Shared world view
3. Client expectations for positive change
4. Interventions are a means of healing

1950s-1960s-1970s-1980s

emphasis on client - to counselor - to total counseling process - multicultural emphasis

Gilbert Wrenn

first prominent professional to give attention to cultural differences in counseling.

Culturally encapsulated counselor

disregards cultural differences and works under the assumptions that theories and techniques are applicable to all people equally.
(((However, not everyone has the same experience in counseling and should not be treated the same.)))

Paul Pedersen

chaired a panel in 1973 at the APA annual convention and later published with Lonner and Dragguns (1976) the first book on the subject, Counseling Across Cultures.

AMCD (Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development)

a division in the ACA, is dedicated to defining and dealing with issues related to counseling across cultures in the US.
o Formerly the ANWC, Association for Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance; became part of the ACA in 1972.
o Publishes the Jou

racism

prejudice displayed in blatant or subtle ways

acculturation

process by which a group of people give up their old ways or culture to adopt new ones

Predominant beliefs of European North Americans are the value of individuals

Action problem-solving, Work ethic, Scientific method, rigid time schedules

sensitivity is needed:

� Knowledge of the worldviews of culturally different clients.
� Awareness of one's (counselor's) own personal worldview and how that view was developed.
� Skills necessary for working with culturally different clients

1992 (before) Pedersen had another model that used an anti-counselor who functioned as an alter ego.

Video taping helps to generate feedback:
� Articulating the problem from the client's cultural perspective.
� Anticipating resistance from a culturally different client.
� Diminishing defensiveness by studying the trainee's own defensive response.
� Learn

effective counseling services across cultures guidelines

o Recognize values and beliefs about acceptable and desirable behavior.
o Awareness of cultural and generic qualities of counseling theories and traditions. No method is culture-free.
o Understand the sociopolitical environment that has influenced the lie

McFadden's model is transcultural focusing on 3 primary dimension:

� Cultural-historical - counselors possess knowledge of client's culture
� Psychosocial - counselors understand client's ethnic, racial, and social group's performance, speeches, or behavior to communicate meaningfully.
� Scientific-ideological - counselo

Between & within groups:

There are more within-group differences than between-groups differences in counseling people from different cultures.

Minority counselors; Majority counselors

____ may also harbor "historical hostility" whether consciously or unconsciously toward members of the majority. On another hand, ______ may carry attitudes of superiority and privilege.

European Americans

heritages of people from Sweden, Italy, France, England, Poland, Germany, Russian, Hungary, and Austria. Recent European immigrants differ widely to the same heritages than those who have been in the US for generations. Inter-marriages among these heritag

African Americans

individual, institutional, and cultural racism are life issues, and racial discrimination and self-esteem have a negative correlation (as one variable increases, the other decreases).
� A counselor must understand African-American history, cultural values

Hispanics/Latinos

ancestors come from Spanish-speaking countries. Latino includes Spanish and Indian descent whose ancestors lived in areas of the Southwest US formally part of Mexico. Most are bi-cultural, but vary in acculturation. Ethnic histories and cultures influence

Asian and Pacific Islanders - (Asian Americans)

� Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Indochinese, Indians, and Koreans
� Different cultural backgrounds - includes 40 different groups
� Have faced strong discriminations in the US and have been the subject of myths; stereotyped
� have been denied the rights o

Native Americans

Made up of 478 tribes recognized by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs. Fifty-two tribes have an unofficial status.
� Diversity exists among this population, such as 149 languages.
� Commonalities: harmony with nature, cooperation, holism, concern with the p

Arab Americans

� Arab Americans are a fast-growing and mosaic group in the United States coming from 22 countries as diverse as Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Yemen, Tunisia, and Palestine.
� Arab Americans vary among themselves. Differences include social class, level of edu

International Counseling

Counseling is a worldwide phenomenon
� Many countries have counseling associations; ACA has a European branch.
� Worldwide associations prescribe to specific theories, such as Adlerian and Reality Therapy.
� International Association for Counseling ( See

ADRESSING

Age & generational differences; Disability; Religion; Ethnicity; Social status; Sexual orientation; Indigenous heritage; National origin; Gender

variables of culture

Ethnographic--ethnicity, nationality, religion & language; Demographic--age, gender, place of residence; Status--social, economic, educational background, formal/informal memberships

Culture.

Any group of people who identify or associate within one another on basis of some common purpose, need, or similarity of background.

etic.

The sameness among different cultural groups, universality.

emic

Culture specific aspects of a group (uniqueness), over-emphasis of specificity.

cultural encapsulation

The disregard of cultural differences & operation under the assumption that all counseling theories & techniques are equally applicable to all clients

prejudice & racism - differences

Prejudice is negative bias toward a particular group of people.; Racism--belief that other racial groups than one's own are inferior & that group has the power to impose its standards on other group.

cultural racism.

One cultural group considers another group inferior & the first group has power to impose its standards on the other

institutionalized racism.

Established use of policies, laws, customs, & norms to perpetuate discrimination & prejudice.

multicultural

Differences in areas such as language, social class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, & physical ability

Sensitivity to cultures

Awareness, knowledge, & skills.

Sensitivity to cultures

Self-awareness--beliefs attitudes & feelings assoc, with cultural differences & examination of own heritage & ethnic identity development; Knowledge of clients' cultural experiences; Skills--kinship influences, language preference, gender-role socializati

ethnically responsible counselors skills are grounded

Ethnic diversity is real & shouldn't be ignored; Ethnic differences are NOT deficiencies & clients should be met where they are, recognizing differences & responding accordingly; Avoid stereotypes & consider multiple context that affect client development

influences & attitudes that should be taken into account when counseling diverse ethnic groups?

Kinship influences; Language preference; Gender-role socialization; Religious/spiritual influences; Help-Seeking attitudes & behaviors

ethnically responsive counselors - helpful ways

Pedersen's triad-role-play model (counselor, client & problem); Examining & implementing theories that have cross-cultural applications (existential counseling); Conveying cultural empathy

principles needed to convey cultural empathy.

Demonstrate in learning about client culture; Convey appreciation for cultural difference; Incorporate culturally appropriate interventions & outcome Use indigenous healing practices from client's culture, if poss.; Understand & accept context of family &

European Americans

Many gravitate toward rational or logical methods in understanding themselves or others

African Americans

An Egalitarian relationship should be established. Counseling should be pragmatic and focus on practical steps and related services including family members, church and community.

Hispanic Latinos/as

Family Focused Approaches. Consider spiritual or religious tradition. Should work to be bilingual

Asian Americans

Must appreciate the history and unique characteristics of this group. May promote self disclosure through education or career counseling.

American Indians

Avoid imposing culturally inappropriate theories on them. Use creative arts in counseling. Willing to be a learner and admit mistakes.

Arab Americans

Counselors can assist by helping find them access groups of support, become members of a larger community. Must go beyond individual or limited group work with clients and reduce prejudice or discrimination.