Racial Identity Development Model Essay

Comparing and contrasting models of identity development in people of color with racial identity models for whites, in Chapter 12 they address the issue of White identity development and discuss how it may impact clients of color. These specialists point out that while the Racial/ Cultural Identity Development model in people of color proves beneficial in our work as therapists, more attention should be devoted toward the White therapist's racial identity.
White racial identity development models describe the salience of identity for establishing relationships between the White therapist and the culturally different client, and some have now linked stages of identity with stages for appropriate training. A number of these models tell us much

about the characteristics most likely to be exhibited by individuals as they progress through these phases, much like the Racial/ Cultural Identity Development model for minority groups alerts clinicians working with clients of color to certain likely challenges associated with each stage or level of racial/ cultural consciousness. Not only may the R/ CID model serve as a useful diagnostic tool, but it provides suggestions of what may be the most appropriate treatment intervention
In contrast the white racial identity development models are very weak in giving guidance about how to develop a nonracist White identity, and therefore not a useful heuristic tool for counselors who work with culturally diverse populations. Although to this we might add the contributions of White racial identity development theorists who have indicated the importance of understanding oneself as a racial/ cultural being. It has been found, for example, that the level of White racial awareness is predictive of racism; the less aware that participants were of their White racial identity, the more likely they exhibited increased levels of racism. (Gone, 2009)
Chapter 11 spent considerable time describing the identity development of people of color from the perspective of clients, whereas the racial identity models for whites are from the perspective of therapists.

One important aspect relatively untouched in our main textbook is the racial identity development of helping professionals, especially the level of racial consciousness of the minority therapist and how it may impact that of the client of color. But it is equally important for counselors of color to consider their own racial consciousness and how it may interact with a client from their own group. A culturally competent counselor needs to be cognizant of and to understand how sociopolitical factors influence and shape identity. Identity development is not solely due to cultural differences but to how the differences are perceived in our society. The R/ CID framework reminds therapists of several important clinical imperatives like how within-group differences are very important to acknowledge in clients of color because not all members of a racial/ cultural group are the same. Depending on their levels of racial consciousness, the attitudes, beliefs, and orientations of clients of color may be quite different from one another. (Gone,

2009)