URL: http://postgrowth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/empathy1.jpg
Professional counselors have gone
through rigorous schoolwork and training in order to learn skills and
techniques that are useful during the counseling process. Furthermore, one
engages in various assessments through observation and questioning (Young,
2017). Observation can help the counselor identify problems by noticing the
client’s appearance, speech, motions, and other features. This can be very
beneficial; however, it is possible that our own cultural biases, assumptions,
and worldview will affect our observations. If we look at others through our
own cultural lens and judge their behavior based on standards established by
our culture, we won’t possess the empathy that is needed in the therapeutic relationship.
According
to Chung and Bemak (2002), empathy is the counselor’s ability to enter the
client’s world. Counselors are going to have many clients of various cultural
groups; therefore, it is essential that one seeks to enter their world and
understand more about them. A counselor who is culturally empathic maintains
their cultural identity while also being accepting of the cultural values of
the client (Chung & Bemak, 2002). Furthermore, it would be foolish if the
counselor assumed that there is a common normal behavior among cultural groups.
According to Pedersen (1987), behavior changes based on the cultural group
values and beliefs as well as when encountering different situations.
Therefore, it would be wise to identify behaviors based on the context of their
culture. While it might be rather impossible to free ourselves from worldviews
and biases we possess, we should continually make an effort to grow in
self-awareness. Furthermore, we should seek to learn more about other cultures
and diligently strive to be empathic counselors.
References:
Chung, R. C. Y.,
& Bemak, F. (2002). The relationship of culture and empathy in
cross‐cultural counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80(2),
154-159
Pedersen, P.
(1987). Ten frequent assumptions of cultural bias in counseling. Journal of
Multicultural Counseling and Development, 15(1), 16-24.
Young, M. E.
(2017). Learning the art of helping: Building blocks and techniques.
Pearson Higher Ed.
Joseph, Thank you for your post on such an important topic. With our world becoming more of a global community, cultural awareness and sensitivity are bedrocks to establishing a strong therapeutic bond. As counselors, we pledge to do no harm to those who sit with us in the counseling room. We can potentially inflict harm, even if unintentionally, when we remain uninformed about cultures different from our own. If our clients are to feel understood, cared for, and accepted, then we must become students of multicultural values and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good post that brings awareness to a very important topic in the counseling profession. For any counselor, one of the most important things is empathy. It was cool to see in your post how empathy was described as entering into another's world. It is important that we do not, as counselors, feel that our perspective is universal. Culture plays a major role in the lives of individuals affecting language, values, behaviors, family dynamics, perspectives, and more. Counselors should not remain ignorant to a culturally diverse world. It is important that counselors seek competency in the area of multicultural counseling so that they can better empathize and work with a diverse client group. I like that you also noted that a good place to start with this, is by being self-aware of our own culture and how it plays a part in our worldview.
ReplyDeleteJoe, thank you for your post. I appreciate you talking about such an important topic. As I think about what it is to be culturally empathetic, I have to reflect back on life experiences. This might seem silly to some, but I think it is applicable. I think about when my sister’s dog passed away a few years ago. This was a very traumatic time for the whole family and resulted in many tears. We had lost a beloved member of the family. When the loss occurred, I had a friend from South America that could not comprehend why we would be so upset. In her country, dogs were viewed as pests and disease-ridden, which resulted in a lack of genuine empathy. To her credit, she did try to empathize, but there was an obvious disconnect.
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