Hands-World-Map-Global
By Amber Bateman
As
future clinicians, we are learning the importance of multicultural counseling. One
tripartite model to multicultural competency outlines three dimensions: 1)
Counselor self-awareness 2) Nonjudgmental learning about other cultures 3)
Intentional use of multicultural skills (Jones, Begay, Nakagawa, Cevasco & Sit,
2016). Some studies have shown that many graduate students do not feel
sufficiently prepared for the third step, actually implementing effective
multicultural skills (Jones et al., 2016). According to Young (2017), professional
counselors should take a tutorial stance toward clients from backgrounds with
which the counselor feels unfamiliar. Beginning counselors cannot know
everything about every culture. The picture of the open hands with the world
painted on them can help visualize the respectful naiveté and humble attitude counselors
can adopt as they invite clients to help them understand cultural differences. According
to Young (2017) and McDowell, Goessling, and Melendez (2012), cultural immersion
experiences, such as extended trips, are one of the best ways to become
multiculturally competent. This kind of exposure helps students see people from
different backgrounds not only through statistics or textbook examples, but as
people with real faces and real struggles (McDowell et al., 2012). For many
students, international travel seems unlikely due to time and financial
restraints. Young (2017) states that learning another language and exposing
oneself to foreign books, movies, and art are also helpful ways to improve
multicultural skills. Other ideas may include intentionally getting to know international
colleagues or coworkers, visiting churches from a different cultural
background, and volunteering at an English as a Second Language program. With
this information in mind, readers should know that multicultural competence seems
to grow over time, with experience, and can be a very enjoyable journey along
the way (Jones et al., 2016).
References
McDowell, T., Goessling, K., & Melendez, T. (2012).
Transformative learning through international immersion: Building multicultural
competence in family therapy and counseling. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(2), 365-379. Doi:
10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00209.x
Jones, J. M., Begay, K. K., Nakagawa, Y., Cevasco M., &
Sit, J. (2016) Multicultural counseling competence training: Adding value with
multicultural consultation. Journal of
Educational and Psychological Consultation, 26(3), 241-265.
DOI:10.1080/10474412.2015.1012671
Young, M. E. (2017). Learning
the Art of Helping: Building Blocks and Techniques (6th ed.).
Boston, MA: Pearson.
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