Transcript MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING

Courtland C. Lee, Ph.D.
Professor
Counselor Education Program
University of Maryland at College Park
President, International Association for Counselling
“The greatest distance between people is not
space, the greatest distance between people is
culture.”
Jamake Highwater
The interface between counselor and
client that takes the personal dynamics
of the counselor and client into
consideration alongside the dynamics
found in the cultures of the counselor
and the client.
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Culture refers to any group of people who
identify or associate with one another on the
basis of some common purpose, need or
similarity of background
All counseling is cross-cultural in nature
Multicultural counseling places an emphasis
on human diversity in all its many forms
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Culturally competent counselors
develop awareness, knowledge and
skills to intervene effectively in the
lives of people from culturally diverse
backgrounds
Culturally competent counselors are
multiculturally literate human beings
Counselor
Client
Distinct Cultural Differences (e.g.)
* Race/Ethnicity/Culture
*Gender
* Ability Status
* Religion/Spirituality
* SES
* Age
*Language
1. Consider culture factors in the counseling
interaction. Remember differences are just that.
They are not necessarily deficiencies or
pathological deviations! Watch the WOW!!
factor! Meet people where they are!
2. Examine and
evaluate your own
“cultural baggage.”
Consider your
possible cultural
privilege when
counseling across
cultures.
3. Examine and
evaluate the
relevance of your
theoretical
orientation.
Consider how
issues of racism,
sexism, classism,
homophobia, etc.
may impact theory.
4. Consider the
level of cultural
identity
development
and degree of
acculturation of
clients/student
s.
5. Avoid cultural stereotypes in counseling.
Consider the individual within a cultural
context.
“Americans love to eat at McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken”
“Asians don’t show their true face”
“Latin women are hot-blooded”
6. Establish good rapport with
clients/students from culturally diverse
backgrounds (Consider adopting an
interpersonal orientation)
7. Talk therapy is
not the only tool
you can use.
Consider using
cultural art forms
in counseling
8. Consider cultural differences in
help-seeking attitudes and behavior.
9. Be willing to learn from clients/students
from culturally diverse backgrounds. Let
them tell you their story. Don’t be afraid
to say “I don’t understand.”
10. Experience cultural diversity firsthand and
strive to become multicultrally literate.
Multicultural Literacy = What Every Culturally
Competent Human Being Should Know
11. Be willing to use indigenous models of
helping. Consider forming therapeutic
alliances with traditional healers when
appropriate.
12. Be advocates for
clients/students
from culturally
diverse
backgrounds in
helping them deal
with the “system.”
If necessary, be a
systemic change
agent in your work
setting
QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS
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