Transcript Multicultural Counseling - Bridgette Mattina

Multicultural Counseling
Learning Modules
Multicultural Counseling
Cultures
Stages of Identity
Counseling Techniques
Counseling Sessions
Resources
Multicultural Counseling
Asian
African
Hispanic
Caucasian
Native American
Cultures
African American
True / False ?
 Most studies indicate the African American groups
have similar values and family structure.

What year did Martin
Luther King, Jr. present the
famous “I have a Dream”
address in Washington D.C.?
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hispanic American
True / False ?
 Mexican-Americans
have a lower
educational level and
literacy rate than
Blacks.
Caucasian American
True / False ?
 Most Caucasian Americans have learned about
other cultures from their own families and share
similar beliefs.
True

The Caucasian population will continue to be
the dominant population in America.
False
Native American
True / False ?
 The Native American
behaves differently
from non-Native
Americans because of
the poverty in which
the great majority of
Native Americans live.
Asian American
True / False ?
 The incidence of
poverty among elderly
Chinese is much
higher than it is for
elderly African
Americans and
Spanish-speaking
populations.
Multicultural Counseling
Stages of Identity
Stage I: Conformity
Pressure for assimilation/ acculturation
 Idealizes White society
 Choice of values from dominant group
 Racial self-hatred
 Self-worth from White perspective
 Adopt attitudes of dominant culture

Stage I: Conformity
Counseling Implications
Identity exploration not comfortable
 May prefer problem solving approach
 May see majority therapist as desirable
 May become dependent on therapist
 Wants to please/gain approval
 Positive attempts to assimilate

Stage II: Dissonance
Breakdown of denial system
 Questions dominant culture values
 Triggers self-exploration
 Begins to see positives of own group
 Growing sense of comradeship
 Mixed feelings=pride, shame at sell out
 Confusion about self-concept

Stage II: Dissonance
Counseling Implications
Encourage self-exploration
 Counselor needs knowledge of client’s group
 May still prefer White counselor but minority
counselors generally more knowledgeable

Stage III: Resistance/Immersion
Begins to understand prejudice forces
 Anger at perceived cultural oppression
 Rejects values of dominant culture
 Guilt/shame at having sold out in past
 Suspicion/mistrust of dominant group

Stage III: Resistance/Immersion
Counseling Implications
Prefer same group counselor
 Will test a dominant group counselor
 Don’t get defensive/personalize attacks
 Can attack same group counselor too
 Self-discovery, self-esteem
 Action oriented approach aimed at external
change/relating to both groups

Multicultural Counseling
Counseling Techniques
Culturally Skilled Therapists

What beliefs and attitudes, knowledge and
skills do you think a culturally skilled
therapist should have?
Culturally Skilled Therapists
Beliefs and Attitudes
Being aware of one's own beliefs, attitudes, and
biases, realizing these influence one's work
with clients from other cultures.
 Developing an appreciation for diverse cultures
and an attitude of comfort and challenge when
working with diverse clients.
 Being sensitive to one's limits of competence
when working with clients from different
cultures.

Culturally Skilled Therapists
Knowledge
Understanding the history, traditions, and
values of their clients' culture.
 Being aware of different cultures' views of
mental health, chemical dependency
counseling, adjustment, and helping.
 Developing sensitivity to institutional barriers
and prejudices that impinge on clients from
different cultures.

Culturally Skilled Therapists
Skills
Being flexible in utilizing approaches that are
compatible with the cultures of clients with
whom they are working.
 Communicating effectively with clients by
using appropriate language and nonverbal
behaviors.
 Being familiar with referral sources, agencies,
and programs that are appropriate for clients
from different backgrounds and cultures.

Multicultural Counseling
Counseling Sessions
Counseling Sessions



What is your age and
experience?
Do you have
experience working
with Hispanic clients?
I’m not here to teach
someone. I’m here to
get help.
Session Video
Counseling Sessions

What is the importance of an ideal match
between a counselor and client?
Resources

Multicultural Issues

International Association for Cross-Cultural
Psychology (IACCP)