Richard Stuart (2012) discusses multicultural competence in regards to clinical psychology in his article “Twelve Practical Suggestions for Achieving Multicultural Competence.” The author defines the meaning of multicultural competence as “the ability of to understand and constructively relate to the uniqueness of each client in light of the diverse cultures that influence each person’s perspective” (Stuart, 2012, p. 193). In addition to defining the issue, the article highlights past mistakes in trying to achieve multicultural competence in clinical psychology and presents 12 suggestions for future success in this regard. Stuart details past problems in the field related to socioeconomic status. While the author concedes that socioeconomic status and mental health do have a strong negative correlation, earlier studies ascribed neurotic conditions to the more affluent members of society and psychotic conditions to poorer individuals. These findings changed the way mental health services were delivered for decades. The author presents the socioeconomic example as a means of showing that caution should be used in differentiating members of society, claiming that within group differences are much greater than between group differences. Stuart holds that, while differences are worth being noted, it is important not to but too much emphasis on a label. This idea is developed in greater depth later in the article, when the author discusses the differences between cultural sensitivity versus cultural stereotypes. Building off of the socioeconomic example presented, Stuart continues detailing the complexities regarding culture. Some of the issues discussed are the subjective nature of cultures, the ambiguous boundaries of cultures... ... middle of paper ... ...alue them. The second is individuality. The individual’s place in a culture and their interpretation of it comes before all. Labels can often be detrimental to outcomes. The client’s perception of their self is what matters more. The last is context. The clinician must understand the client in a context of multiple systems, with culture being just one of them. While culture may have a great impact on the individual, other systems including family or work can have similar effects, as well. The complete world of the client must be accounted for in all areas of treatment. References Stuart, R.B. (2012). Twelve practical suggestions for achieving multicultural competence. In S.O. Lilienfeld & W.T. O’Donohue (Eds.), Great readings in clinical science: Essential selections for mental health professionals (pp. 193-200). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
In conclusion, Becker’s argument concerning cultural interaction in his article, Culture: A Sociological Viewpoint, is flawed because of the use of fallacious analogies, historical record of rapid social change and uniqueness of micro social situations. Becker fails to acknowledge the diverse array of subcultures within larger cultures that challenge social norms as well as the diversity of socioeconomic factors that can alter a person’s life experience and decision making within a culture. In short, one does not need to adhere to cultural norms to be a member of a wider culture such as American culture.
Cuéllar, I., & Paniagua, F. A. (2000). Handbook of Multicultural Mental Health : Assessment and Treatment of Diverse Populations. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Culture is “the total lifeways of a human group. It consists of learned patterns of values, beliefs, customs, and behaviors that are shared by a group of interacting individuals” (Stumbo & Peterson, 2009, p. 257). In order for a person to be culturally competence, he or she must be able to overlook stereotypes of different cultures and be able to appreciate the cultural differences. Dana suggested some culturally competent assessment, which must be considered when serving multicultural clients: cultural orientation, styles of service delivery, assessment methodology, assessment measures, and feedback of assessment findings (Stumbo & Peterson, 2009, p.
“Cultural competence is the ability to engage in actions or create conditions that maximize the optimal development of client and client systems” (Sue & Sue, 2013, p. 49). Multicultural competence includes a counselor to be aware of his or her biases, knowledge of the culture they are evaluating, and skills to evaluate a client with various backgrounds (Sue & Sue, 2013). Client assessment involves gathering information pertaining to the client’s condition. Making a culturally responsive diagnosis involves using the DSM-IV-TR axis (Hays, 2008). Following the axis backwards is ideal to discovering the client’s diagnosis, understanding the client’s ADDRESSING outline will help to come to a closer resolution for a diagnosis.
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.
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,
Gain knowledge and experience in multicultural competencies which involves case conceptualization, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders
In conclusion, working with multicultural clients can be challenging and rewarding. From this essay, I’ve established that prior to a counselor entering the field to counsel multicultural clients. It’s imperative to apply the two rules that have been discussed in this essay.
Sue, D. W., Arredondo, P., & McDavis, R. J. (1992). Multicultural Counseling Competencies and Standards: A Call to the Profession. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70(4), 477-486.
After reading the many articles on the notion of diagnosis and counseling with multicultural/ethnic patients, it has come to my attention that this focus is solely based on stereotypical attitudes. Sure, it can be said that it is important for a therapist to have a background of the patient’s heritage and culture, but doesn’t this necessarily mean that the outlook of the therapist will be put in a box by doing so? I think multicultural competency is a ridiculous way to improve patient-therapist relationships because of several reasons. First off, generalities and race-centralisms only hinder, not improve, the inner workings of a therapy session. Second, there is no real way to test for competency of multicultural issues. So the question of competency cannot be tested and thus should be removed from the criteria of abilities of a therapist. Third, these types of attachments in the learning of diagnosis and therapy only add to stereotypical and racist behavior.
Cultures are infinitely complex. Culture, as Spradley (1979) defines it, is "the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experiences and generate social behavior" (p. 5). Spradley's emphasizes that culture involves the use of knowledge. While some aspects of culture can be neatly arranged into categories and quantified with numbers and statistics, much of culture is encoded in schema, or ways of thinking (Levinson & Ember, 1996, p. 418). In order to accurately understand a culture, one must apply the correct schema and make inferences which parallel those made my natives. Spradley suggests that culture is not merely a cognitive map of beliefs and behaviors that can be objectively charted; rather, it is a set of map-making skills through which cultural behaviors, customs, language, and artifacts must be plotted (p. 7). This definition of culture offers insight into ...
Cognitive behavior therapy helps to change the way that people think or behave. This paper will discuss this approach applied through multicultural lenses. It will discuss a therapy session and how the therapist applied this approach and how effective it was. It will then explain how the therapist applied the AMCD multicultural counseling competencies.
It is important to practice culturally competent because knowing the background of other is a great way to help culturally competent counseling with their client or a person with building relationship. Everyone have their own culturally within their family, work and social life. Becoming culturally competent in counseling/mental health practice demands that nested or embedded emotions associated with race, culture, gender, and other sociodemographic differences be openly experienced and discussed (Sue, & Sue, 2016).
In the other hand, “simply recognizing and accepting cultural diversity is insufficient to attain cultural competency in health care”, as cited by Edelman (2014, p.26). It is important that before we get to know and understand other cultures, we are able to recognize our own beliefs and values, and more importantly, that we do not attempt to influence others with our own culture. Every person is unique and it is essential for us to be aware of that so we can meet their own needs and expectations while providing exceptional
To conclude, cultures are a major part of our lives and they constitute the image we see the world in. cultures can sometimes influence us, even in ways we don’t expect. Sometimes we find ourselves forced in cultures with negative stereotypes but that does not mean we should be ashamed of those cultural groups but rather embrace our culture and stray from the negative characteristics of that