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. Therefore, to avoid cultural biases counselors can use culture free tests, “which are intended to involve questions and processes providing all individuals with an equal familiarity of footing” (Watson & Flamez, 2015, p. 439). Additionally, counselors could also use culture-fair tests, which Watson …show more content…
439). Thus these tests place high importance on fairness, or “presence of a lack of bias, equal treatment of participants, equal opportunity in outcomes, and an opportunity to learn” (Watson & Flamez, 2015, p. 440). Essentially, counselors need to administer assessments that are culturally sensitive which take into account all the cultural factors that can influence the results and therefore, provide biases results. As a career graduate counseling assistant at East Los Angeles College, I had the opportunity to work with a student who had Autism. I met this student while co-facilitating a Counseling 20 course. During class, I noticed that the student had a difficult time communicating, therefore several weeks after building rapport with the student he disclosed his mental health condition. In addition, it was very challenging for the student to communicate his thoughts in a legible manner. Furthermore, in their class, the student took an assessment called the Strong Interest Inventory, which helps individuals identify
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons
Many of these students, like Avery, may belive that there really is no light at the end of the tunnel, or that they are “just gonna be that weird depressed guy” and “should just accept it”. Not only is this belife self-destroying but it is also untrue. It is of vital importance that students suffering with mental illness are made aware that what they are going through is not permanent and that there are resources available for them, something many univercities and colleges need to make more
Acculturation, worldview and perceived discrimination as cultural variables influence career behaviors of racial/ethnic minorities. Multicultural education and diversity appreciation training are thought to decrease counselor prejudice. Theme four looks at multicultural issues that require counselors to incorporate cultural data into their thinking and actions. Multicultural competence incorporates learning how to include cultural data into decision making process of complicated problems and interventions posed by culturally different clients. Theme five posits that people have multiple identities that affect the ways they experience and view the world. Multiple identities are used to refer to variables such as sex, age, socioeconomic status, nationality and ethnicity which impact an individual’s behavior, perception and
Cultural differences pose several barriers for students and may impair their opportunity to learn. These barriers are created by differences in language expression, communication style, preferred learning style, gender-role customs and behaviors, and limited parental involvement due to these cultural or socioeconomic barriers (Ralabate, & Klotz, 2007).
With the potential language barrier, a counselor could also ask an interpreter to mediate with the client during sessions to make sure there is an understanding between the client and the counselor. Multicultural knowledge includes counselors’ understanding of their own worldview, knowledge of cultural groups with whom the counselor works, and recognition of sociopolitical factors that impact diverse clients’ lives. Beliefs and attitudes encompass counselors’ values associated with different cultural groups, their ability to recognize and hold in check stereotypes of different cultural groups, a celebration of diversity, and an awareness of how their biases and negative attitudes can adversely influence counseling relationships (Ivers, 2012). One of the hardest parts about being a counselor is admitting your own biases and stereotyping before counseling others of different cultural ethnicities. Once a counselor understands their own biases and stereotyping towards others, they are better able to catch themselves from letting their biases affect their counseling.
For example, the Campinha-Bacote model views cultural competence as an ongoing process that involves the integration of the following constructs: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounters, and cultural desires (Campinha-Bacote, 2002). This model can be implemented into practice as I can recognize my own cultural background to prevent the tendency to impose any biases on another individual’s culture. I can begin to build upon my cultural knowledge by asking questions in a respectful manner to seek information about one’s culture. Most importantly, a desire to want to engage in the process of becoming culturally competent will be a deciding factor for positive patient outcomes. Examples of this desire may include, the willingness to learn how to conduct cultural assessments or a genuine passion to be open and accept differences between cultures. Moreover, it is important to recognize that cultural competency is not an end result, but an ongoing learning process (Campinha-Bacote,
An example of a bias is when a counselor uses an treatment plan “one size fits all”. Counselor should be careful because not all clients have the same problems and will required additional support then others. According to Snowden (2003) states “Bias occurs in the beliefs and actions of individual clinicians, and it is at this level that it has received the greatest amount of attention. Bias also occurs when unfounded assumptions become normative beliefs shared by members of practitioner networks or treatment organizations. Bias occurs too when authorities and community members become particularly intolerant of minority individuals with mental illnesses and differentially enforce conformity norms of acceptable behavior”. Therefore, counselors
Remember, self-reflection is vital to becoming a culturally-competent counselor. The counselor should consistently re-examine their worldview and personal beliefs about diverse individuals and other cultures. The idea is for the counselor to explore their own prejudices, emotions, and preconceived notions of those that differ from themselves. Remaining curious and willing to learn about culturally distinct groups is a practical way of working effectively with varied clients in counseling and understanding what barriers and prejudices are typical in their
“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?
Negroni-Rodriguez, L. K., & Morales, J. (2001). Individual and family assessment skills with Latino/Hispanic Americans. In R. Fong & S. Furuto (Eds.), Culturally competent practice: Skills, interventions, and evaluations (pp. 132-146). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon
The core of social justice is equality and fairness, specifically concerned with addressing a person or a group of people that society marginalizes or diminishes the power the person has. The goal of any social justice movement is to empower individuals to regain the power and dignity and/or to change the situation that is oppressing people. Counseling is also a practice centered on change and empowerment (Brackette, Rezaei, & Kuyinu, 2015). It is evident that professional counseling and social justice go hand in hand, yet the how and the deeper why need to be considered and explored so that counselors can fulfill their calling and client can regain dignity and the journey to wholeness. Counselors can engage in social justices practices on
Can you picture the student voted “most likely to succeed” in your graduating class? This individual must have had everything going for them. They probably had good grades, popular, never in trouble, no health issues and socially and emotionally stable. However, twenty years later, after graduating college, a successful business owner, had a beautiful wife and three kids, he decides emotionally he is done and takes his own life. Mental health issues can manifest at anytime with varying degrees of significance on the emotional stability of a person. Factors such as socioeconomic status, biological and environmental issues all dictate mental health needs. Obviously, a variety of circumstances can evoke these mental health issues. Now imagine coping with these mental health issues and being expected to still be a normal student and conform to your peers around you. This is what we expect of our students dealing with a variety of mental health issues. The policies and procedures are established to meet the needs of all students. The mental health issues are recognized and evaluated based on the best placement for the student to receive an education. The public school system has the responsibility to provide a free and appropriate education. The school does the best they can to provide a whole school approach to deal with the increasing number of mental health concerns. However, the mental health concerns carry on beyond high school.
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.
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.
Some ways that test bias could be decreased is by having the tests measured on cultural bias by another professional or trained expert. The assessment could be given multiple ways to insure the student’s academic achievement and progress are accurately measured.