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Paper on multicultural counseling
How i feel about multicultural counseling
Paper on multicultural counseling
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Introduction The importance of race and culture was not emphasized within the theory and practice of counseling of diverse clients until the 1950s and 1960s (Sue et al., 1989). Continual advancements are needed in counseling that are applicable to women of color. It is essential to understand identity development models, worldviews, and values of clients who specifically identify with this population (handbook of conseling women). Additionally, an examination of possible challenges such as acculturation processes, racism/discrimination, language and its affects on identity development, as well as issues of colorism should be considered if applicable to clients (integration of multicultural concepts). Given the obstacles women of color face, feminist therapy can be used as a catalyst for empowerment. With the use of this approach, clients and therapists participate in an A feminist therapist must be aware that like the client, she or he is immersed in patriarchal beliefs therefore the process of developing methods of empowerment and recognition of disempowerment is continual. Feminist therapist must also be open to an ongoing exploration on the influence of patriarchal assumptions of privilege and hierarchy on her or his work and the lives of clients. The outcome of treatment is not based on treatment goals rather focus is placed on a collaborative approach with the client to reach empowerment. This process is assessed by therapists, through clients’ self-report and satisfaction. Throughout sessions, feminist therapists ask clients about their goals and suggest methods of achieving those goals. Both discuss, negotiate, and renegotiate these methods. However, the goal of therapy becomes discovering client’s wishes when clients express they do not know their goals. It is important that feminist therapists do not impose their own beliefs on what the client’s goals should be throughout the
Hud-Aleem, Raushanah, and Jacqueline Countryman. "Biracial Identity Development and Recommendations in Therapy." Psychiatry (Edgmont). Matrix Medical Communications. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.
Mills (2017) outlines the difficulty that some multiracial people have with others categorizing their identity for them and the resulting feeling of being forced to identify with one group over another, while not making room for the experience of multiracial identity in of itself. Moreover, this can be a marker of oppression and discrimination, which can then impact a person’s identity as their turmoil is internalized. Mock’s (2014) experience as a biracial Black and Native Hawaiian parallels this. During her time in California and Texas, Mock grew up in a community of black people of colour and was perceived as a black person, so her identity as a Native Hawaiian was erased and not externally visible. In contrast, when living in Hawaii, Mock was treated as an outsider and nonlocal because she presented as a black woman of colour. This goes to show that intersectional identity is more than what is presented on the outside and that all racial identities need to be recognized and affirmed. Moreover, social workers can utilize the art of meeting clients where they are by letting the client tell their story, learning about their experiences, and empowering, recognizing, and validating their multiracial identities (Harkey, Sortedahl, Crook, & Sminkey, 2017). Every client will construct and experience their racial identity in a
According to feminist Victoria L. Bromley, if feminism is about combating all forms of inequalities, including oppression, towards all social groups, then feminists must study how masculinity oppresses both men and women. Patriarchy, men’s powers and dominance, hegemonic masculinity, the idea that the “dominant group” in society is most powerful, and hyper masculinity, the exaggeration of the emphasis on male characteristics, all lead to oppression through multiple forms: privileges and unearned privileges, hierarchies of power and exclusion. Bromley argues that the feminist approach towards eliminating oppression, is to use an intersectional analysis, a theoretical tool used for understanding how multiple identities are connected and how systems
“The root of the word “oppression” is the element “press”… Something pressed is something caught between or among forces and barriers which are so elated to each other that jointly the restrain, restrict or prevent the thing’s motion or mobility” (Frye, 84-85). Oppression is something felt by many different social groups in societies around the world. The feminist movement is one that sets out to dismantle sexist oppression. Marilyn Frye describes an oppression that she believes is common to all women despite ethnic or racial differences. Kimberlé Crenshaw, in her Tedtalk, however, argues that there is a common experience between females of different social groups due to certain constructs in society, and Audre Lorde discusses how crucial it
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.
Overarching research on women of color (African American, Native American, Latina/Hispanic, Pacific Islander American, and Asian American) and the impact of racism and sexism as interrelated constructs on their academic aspirations is limited. A few scholarly pieces that explore racism and sexism as intersecting constructs, primarily focus on understanding the relationship between these isms and the mental health of women of color (DeBlaere & Bertsch, 2013; DeBlaere, Brewster, Bertsch, DeCarlo, Kegel, & Presseau, 2013;Martin, Boadi, Fernandes,Watt, & Robinson-Wood, 2013).More specifically, extant literature suggests one of the major consequences women of color experience in relation to racist and sexist events is psychological distress, which can be understood as concerns including depression, low self-esteem, and self-hatred, among others (King, 2003; Hipolito-Delgado, 2010).
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.
Race and ethnicity can influence a client’s experience of self and others in a variety of ways. A client’s personal race and ethnicity can influence his or her experience within the context of therapy through the set of beliefs he or she brings into the room. This set of beliefs and customs influences how he or she views therapy and whether there is motivation to be there. If the client’s culture does not usually seek therapy for their problems, or even believe in mental illness, it is likely the client will have apprehensions about trusting or speaking to the clinician. If the clinician is not aware of this possibility, the clinician may wonder why the client is in therapy if he or she will not speak or allow rapport to be built. A responsible clinician will take this into consideration.
African American women are considered the most disadvantaged group vulnerable to discrimination and harassment. Researchers have concluded that their racial and gender classification may explain their vulnerable position within society, despite the strides these women have made in education, employment, and progressing their families and communities (Chavous et al. 2004; Childs 2005; Hunter 1998; Settles 2006; Wilkins 2012). Most people agree that race and gender categories are explained as the biological differences between individuals in our society; however sociologists understand that race and gender categories are social constructions that are maintained on micro and macro levels. Historically, those in power who control the means of production within a society have imposed race, class, and gender meanings onto the minority population in order to maintain their dominant position and justify the unequal treatment of minority individuals by the divisions of race, class, and gender categories (Collins 2004; Nguyen & Anthony 2014; Settles 2006;).
Steward, R. J. (1993, September/October). Black Women and White Women in Groups: Suggestions for MInority-Sensitive Group Services on University Campuses. Journal of Counseling and Development, 72(), 39-41.
When advocating for the success of a client when utilizing this theory, a counselor must be prepared to identify and eliminate barriers, prejudices, oppression, and discrimination that may create a psychological obstruction in the client. Learning culturally-competent counseling practices and current theoretical approaches while practicing self-reflection will help the counselor acquire the skills necessary to engage with a diverse clientele. Strategies such as; identifying cultural differences, understanding and addressing issues in the counseling process, the counselor’s ability to understand self, and ongoing education are all important strategies in combating oppression and eliminating barriers.
White therapists are prone to engaging in racial microaggressions and if so, the therapist-patient relationship is weakened because clients of color view their white therapists as biased, prejudiced, or unlikely to understand them as racial/cultural beings. Unintentional and unconscious acts and nature of microagressions continue to be the biggest challenge to the majority of white meant health professionals who believe they are unbiased and nonracist. Mental health professionals are in a position of power and authority over their clients and therefore any harm done against their clients is either unknown of minimized. According to this study, microagressions oppress, harm, and place clients of color in the inevitable catch-22 position. Furthermore, these microagressions are likely to go unrecognized by white mental health professional who are unintentionally and unconsciously expressing bias. Consequently, clients of color, according to this study, are at an increased risk of not continuing in the counseling/therapy session when such microagressions occur. To further education and/or to create any change in the therapist-client relationship, white clinicians must address the question of what does it mean to be white and furthermore be fully aware and recognize how their own white racial identity and how it may intrude, either positively or negatively, on people of color. This, I think, is related to
Unlike cultural competence, Anti- racism and the Anti-oppression framework has a clear focus, to directly address oppressive practices, and privilege in large institutions. In the “ More than being against it: Anti– racism and Anti –oppression in mental health services “ the authors Simon Corneau and Vicky Stergiopouls, identify seven strategies of the anti-racism and anti-oppression that should be employed when practicing direct service with clients. These seven strategies are "empowerment, education, alliance building, language, alternative, healing strategies, advocacy, social justice/activism, and fostering reflexivity” (Corneau & Stergiopoulos, 2012). The goal of using these seven strategies with clients is to engage the client in the process of care by recognizing the strengths and knowledge that the client brings to the relationship and honoring the idea that there is a racial feature of oppression that is inherent in the dynamics of the client clinician relationships. For example, the use of this practice in my current job with the Family Drug Courts could have a profound effect on the outcomes for both parents and children involved in the program. One example is the case of a 28-year-old mother of three that was separated from her children because of her drug addiction. This parent had an extensive history of trauma,
...es are still highly stigmatized in today’s society. It seems that mothers of black/white biracials know this sentiment as they specifically use self-development racial socialization messages to help their children cope with discrimination they may face. It is made evident that not all biracials are all the same, they have different attitudes and experiences that help shape their identity. In the field of family development denying ones biracial identity can have extreme negative mental-health ramifications that can affect self-esteem and result in depression. Recent literature shows that identifying as biracial is not simple and may have its roots in labeling practices by families during childhood. Thus, more research is needed to fully understand the complexities of identity for biracial individuals in areas of their everyday life like education and employment.
In today’s world, social inequality seems to be so apparent that the issue cannot escape anyone’s radar. The ways men and women are treated in their society have become so different and possibly full of prejudiced intentions that feminism emerged to establish and protect what women truly deserve in our society. But in the midst of all the movements and agendas of the feminists, one group of people are left vulnerable to the struggles and rejections they have to face yet unable to protest due to society’s expectations of them being strong, confident, and dependable. This group consists of the other half of the human population, men. It is not always easy, as it may seem to be, to live as a man.