According to Hook et al. (2013), cultural humility involves working together with clients to determine where the client’s identity traits meet and how that affects therapeutic practices. A culturally humble counselor does not become overly confident, allowing prior experience working with a particular group to overly influence current client therapies and assessments.
Developing multicultural counseling competence requires considering multiple factors that influence a person’s life. Factors such as family, community, and environment should all be considered (Hays & Erford, 2014). Competence begins with considering the individual in the group context such as culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and spiritual affiliation. The client’s …show more content…
First, a proper understanding of the complexities of diversity and multiculturalism on the counseling relationship is necessary. Aspects of identity such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and spirituality should be considered interconnected instead of separate entities. Also, the prominent influence of environment on various aspects of identity must be considered. Second, counselors and clients should recognize the negative influence of oppression on mental health and well-being. Discrimination, stigmatization, and marginalization have been found to increase substance abuse and suicide in certain groups, as well as increases depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem (Thoma & Hebner, 2013). Thirdly, counselors should seek to understand, and help clients understand, individuals in the context of their social environment. Developing such understanding will help counselors determine whether presenting issues are established only within the individual or as a result of the individual’s
Developing multicultural counseling competence requires considering multiple factors that influence a person’s life. Factors such as family, community, and environment should all be considered (Hays & Erford, 2014). Competence begins with considering the individual in the group context such as culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and spiritual affiliation. The client’s …show more content…
First, a proper understanding of the complexities of diversity and multiculturalism on the counseling relationship is necessary. Aspects of identity such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and spirituality should be considered interconnected instead of separate entities. Also, the prominent influence of environment on various aspects of identity must be considered. Second, counselors and clients should recognize the negative influence of oppression on mental health and well-being. Discrimination, stigmatization, and marginalization have been found to increase substance abuse and suicide in certain groups, as well as increases depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem (Thoma & Hebner, 2013). Thirdly, counselors should seek to understand, and help clients understand, individuals in the context of their social environment. Developing such understanding will help counselors determine whether presenting issues are established only within the individual or as a result of the individual’s