Chapter 4 Counseling in a Multicultural and Diverse Society

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Chapter 4Counseling in a Multicultural and
Diverse Society
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Why do we need to learn multicultural counseling?

• Why do counselors need to know cultures?
• Do you think cultural issues are sensitive?
• Does the majority of Americans have the same
  culture? How about other ethnic groups?
• ? Counselors cannot avoid addressing cultures.

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Defining Culture and Multicultural Counseling

• Culture
• ethnographic variables
• demographic variables
• status variables

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Defining Culture and Multicultural Counseling

• Culture
• any group of people who identify or associate
  with one another for some common purpose, need,
  or similarity of background
• Multicultural counseling
• counseling in which the counselor and client
  differ in terms of culture and/or worldview.

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Defining Culture and Multicultural Counseling

• Two perspectives
• Etic -------------------- Emic
• perspective perspective
• (culturally (culturally
• generalizable) specific)

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History of Multicultural Counseling

• Before 1970, only 8.5 of the most frequently
  cited books were published.
• Gilbert Wrenn (1962) described the culturally
  encapsulated counselor.

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History of Multicultural Counseling

• The Association for Non-white Concerns in
  Personnel and Guidance (ANWC) a division of the
  ACA was founded in 1972.
• The ANWC was later changed to the Association for
  Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD).
• The AMCD publishes the Journal of Multicultural
  Counseling and Development.
• The AMCD sponsors conferences.

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Difficulties in Multicultural Counseling

• Overculturalizing
• Language
• Nonverbal behaviors
• Racism
• Acculturation
• the process of cultural change as a result of the
  contact between two or more cultures

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Issues in Multicultural Counseling

• The dominance of theories based on European/North
  American cultural values
• the value of individuals
• action-oriented approach to problem-solving
• the scientific method
• an emphasis on rigid time schedules

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Issues in Multicultural Counseling

• Cultural sensitivity
• Guidelines for effective counseling across
  cultures
• recognize their own values and beliefs
• aware of the cultural and generic qualities of
  counseling theories
• sociopolitical environment
• able to share the worldview of clients
• able to apply various counseling skills

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Issues in Multicultural Counseling

• Development and employment of counseling theories
• Cultural bias
• Integrating cultural awareness into training
• Explanations of existing theories and their
  applicability to certain populations and problems

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• Between-group differences
• Within-group differences
• Uniqueness

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• Five main cultural groups
• European Americans (69)
• African Americans (13)
• Hispanics/Latinos (13.5)
• Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (4)
• Native Americans (1)
• Source U.S. Census Bureau (2003)

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• European Americans
• Cultural heritages
• Relatively more homogeneous
• Worldview
• values linear, analytical, empirical, task
  solutions
• individualism, autonomy, independence
• gt group performance

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• African Americans
• Negative stereotypes
• Relinquish independence
• Unequal relationships
• Collective emphasis

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• Hispanics/Latinos
• Heterogeneous people whose ancestors come from
  the Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas
• May be reluctant to use counseling services
• May perceive psychological problems as physical
  problems
• May expect counselors to be directive

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (Asian
  Americans)
• Heterogeneous
• Model minority
• Religious traditions
• Psychosomatic symptoms are common
• May expect counselors to be directive

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• Native Americans
• 478 tribes recognized by the U.S. Bureau of
  Indian Affairs plus another 52 tribes without
  official status
• Very diverse 149 languages
• Value harmony with nature, cooperation, holism,
  present-concern, reliance on ones extended
  family
• Historical influence

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Counseling Considerations with Specific Cultural
Groups

• Native Americans
• Existential approaches of counseling
• Acculturation
• Creative arts
• Storytelling
• Meet with tribal leaders and elders
• Extended family

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Aged Populations

• The aged gt 65
• 13 in 2000, 21 in 2030
• Receiving less services
• Common problems
• - grief, loneliness
• - empty nest
• - financial problems

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Aged Populations

• Counseling the Aged
• older people do not receive much attention from
  mental health providers because of
• a lack of understanding
• the investment syndrome
• the irrational fear of aging

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Aged Populations

• Approach
• Treat the aged as adults and with respect.
• Modify the attitudes of society.

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Gender-Based Counseling

• Counseling Women
• Primary consumers of counseling
• Major concerns
• Concerns in counseling women
• Theories
• Sexism counterproductive

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Gender-Based Counseling

• Issues and theories of counseling women
• Feminist theory
• Emphasizes equality in the counseling
  relationship
• Emphasizes sociopolitical action

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Gender-Based Counseling

• Counseling Men
• Traditional sex roles
• Internalizing emotions
• Less help-seeking
• Issues and theories
• Exploring feelings
• Interpersonal learning in groups

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Counseling and Sexual Orientation

• Counseling with
• Gays/Lesbians/Bisexuals/
• Transgenders (GLBT)
• Family and peer relations
• Isolation
• Coming out
• AIDS

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Counseling and Spirituality

• Spirituality
• refers to a unique, personally meaningful
  experience of a transcendent dimension that is
  associated with wholeness and wellness.
• Examples