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Challenges in cross cultural communication
Challenges in cross cultural communication
How cultural background influences counselling
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Implications and Learning Each person’s cultural background influences the type of counselor they will be. Biases, values, beliefs and much more influence how a counselor approaches counseling. A main influence a counselor’s background has on their practice is the theory in which they identify. The theory they practice from will influence the type and process of counseling. All theories are different and have their own values within them. For example, some value the past of the client, their support system, or object each of these. This can influence the counseling experience for the client if they do not value the same beliefs as the theory it is a clue to try something different, or refer the client. My cultural background has provided me with my values, beliefs, and identity. Throughout my childhood I was taught to value family. Family was expressed as the most important relationships and family is meant to accept you and help you through whatever. This could influence the client-counselor relationship if the client does not value their family. Through making comments about family, asking the client if they have talked to family members about what they are going through, or suggesting it, can influence the relationship immensely. This may be a positive influence if they also value family, but worse …show more content…
57). Multicultural counseling competencies include three domains: awareness, knowledge, and skills (Sue & Sue, 2016). Awareness is about being both culturally aware and aware of the self. Understanding characteristics of different cultures, barriers, and worldviews of cultures will instill knowledge in the counselor. Skills incorporate the ability to demonstrate helpful verbal and nonverbal communication, intervention skills, styles, and roles in a culturally competent way for each
Although, even if the therapist is from the same cultural background this can still be hard to counsel these clients because of different traditions, language dialects, family values, and ancestry. This does not mean that the therapist cannot help these clients, but this could hinder the therapist and client relationship if brought up in an entire different environment. For instance, you can have two individuals from the same cultural background and family values, but these individuals live in an entirely different environment or learned different family values and belief system. When working with a diverse client, it is very important to monitor your own culturally beliefs and be willing to work with the client no matter if you have any biases or prejudice towards them. Some of the strategies that could be helpful in these situations include, (a) treat the client the same way you would like to be treated, (b) research some information about the clients background and, (c) beware of your own cultural biases and prejudices when counseling minorities if your unaware of their backgrounds.
Counselors today face the task of how to appropriately counsel multicultural clients. Being sensitive to cultural variables can be conceptualized as holding a cultural lens to human behavior and making allowances for the possibility of cultural influence. However, to avoid stereotyping, it is important that the clinician recognize the existence of within-group differences as well as the influence of the client’s own personal culture and values (Furman, Negi, Iwamoto, Shukraft, & Gragg, 2009). One’s background is not always black or white and a counselor needs to be able to discern and adjust one’s treatment plan according to their client.
Trimble (2010), asserts that when working with Native Amercian populations, counselors need to embrace the differences, make sure appointments are sheduled for flexibility in the counseling sessions, be open to allow the extended family in the in the counseling sessions, be mindful that it takes time to build trust with this population and allow extra sessions and do not force the trusting process before getting to the root issues, if the client wants to be silent be respectful as this could be a part of their process, respect their culture, and confidentality is important to them so have a high respect for this part.
A therapist will face problems, issues and client troubles everyday. The professional must understand how their client relates to the world around them. These feelings and ideas affect how the client sees the problem and how they respond to their situation. Their actions, in turn, have bearing on individual thoughts, needs, and emotions. The therapist must be aware of the client's history, values, and culture in order to provide effective therapy. This paper will outline and provide information as to the importance of cultural competence and diversity in family therapy.
The idea is to do so by expressing a willingness to learn more about, and showing respect for the client’s worldview, belief systems, and means of problem-solving while remaining empathetic to their emotional journey. Discovering and addressing the client’s personal stories and realities will enable the counselor to establish culturally appropriate interventions.
The counseling session should be centered on the client and their understanding of their world and/or problems not heavily weighted on the counselor interpretation of the client’s situation. The role of the counselor is to examine a problem needs changing and discover options in overcoming their problem. Bringing about change can help change the client’s narrative on their problem in the future and/or on life in the process.
“Seek out training in diversity, read literature and self-reflection.” (B. Schauland, personal communication, November 11, 2015) In our course on cultural diversity it has been discussed that individuals from different cultural backgrounds then the counselor may feel that the counselor does not understand their needs, can you reflect on this?
In regards to the questions and answers, I feel as though my personal approach to counseling is based off of my own priorities I set forth in myself that follow more closely to the aspects of Reality Therapy, and Adlerian Therapy. Though Reality Therapy primarily focuses on the present, it still has some grounding in the past but not as much as Adlerian does. Even knowing this I still feel these two therapies are more closely related to my own belief system. I am in agreement with Reality Therapy, in that we are responsible for the choices we make. I trust that we can exercise great control over our lives, over how we can change to better ourselves, and to better our relationships with those around us. I feel that we all as a society are influenced by basic needs: belonging, survival, freedom, and power, and that these needs can be used as motivational tool when working with clients.
They should be sensitive towards the client’s emotions and not be judgemental. Approach should also be developmentally and culturally appropriate and interaction void of any prejudice and discrimination (see ACA E.5.b. Cultural Sensitivity (in Diagnosis of Mental Disorders) & E.6.c. Culturally Diverse Populations (in Instrument Selection)). For example, while counselling a child, counsellor must be able to understand the perception of the child which may involve elements of immaturity and fantasy and not seek to correct the child’s worldview to match that of an adult. Such behaviour will diminish the child’s self-esteem and stress the child, causing harm instead of
Understanding race, ethnicity, and culture is an extremely important aspect of being a counselor. If an individual does not have cultural identity of their own or understand his or herself as a cultural, ethnic, or racial individual, it may be difficult to help your clients. Understanding and being aware of your cultural identity will help the counselor be conscious of their own prejudice. Being aware of your own prejudice towards any culture, race, or ethnic group may help you redirect your negative thinking into a positive active role as a counselor. Having awareness will make an individual an improved counselor able to empathize and understand any individual who seeks therapy.
Individuals may have many different motivations to pursue a career power, wealth, self-satisfaction, and work fulfillment. A counselor’s aim is to accomplish goals that the client sees as important. In some cases, the more successful you get, the more pressure you’ll have to stay successful. Understanding the client’s cultural values and norms will help the therapist to be competent when choosing
A counselor’s nonverbal cues and body language can be misinterpreted by clients from different cultures, so it is essential for a counselor to display appropriate cues for the specific culture they are treating (Hays & Erford, 2014). Additionally, Hays & Erford (2014) mentions the importance of emotional expression. Again, it is necessary to have a working knowledge of the culture of your client as to not oppress them with an expression not accepted in their culture, such as direct eye contact. Another significant characteristic an effective counselor should possess is an awareness of their personal belief system or biases and not reflect those onto the client at any point in the counseling process (Hays & Erford, 2014). Finally, a counselor should be prepared to advocate and provide support for their clients.
It is important for counselors to be aware of the cultural variables that can affect assessment. However, it can be challenging for counselors to administer assessment when working with a diverse population. There are various factors that counselors need to be cognizant of in order to avoid any biases. Some of these factors include language barriers and acculturation. For example, culture influences individuals’ worldviews, or how they behave and make decisions, and could, therefore, be a factor that plays a large role in assessment results.
It is important for a counselor to be aware of his/her own biases and prejudices so that they can handle them appropriately. Counselors are supposed to put away their pre judgements so that they can work with their clients effectively. If a counselor is not aware of or doesn’t suppress these biases, it can be detrimental to the client-counselor relationship. It can also have a negative impact on the counselor’s career. If a counselor refuses to see LGBT clients because of his/her own ignorance/biases to the people in that community then this can make it difficult for them to have a prosperous counseling career.
To understand or create a theory, one must first have scientific support. The best way to comprise such support is research. Counseling theories give an extensive basis of data from research which has relevant correlation to active psychotherapists and counseling practitioners.