RUNNING HEAD: COUNSELING CONSIDERATIONS Page 4
Social and Cultural Diversity ? Counseling Considerations
Thomas J. McCarthy
Grand Canyon University: PCN-509
September 7, 2016
Immigrant Culture (Rasmussen, 2011) Recent immigrants are subject to a number of stressors because of leaving some loved ones behind. Therefore, counseling is usually not the first choice for these people. It is family who become their most important support system. But when they do come to counseling, it is important, when assessing the client, to get a history of the events leading up to immigration. When they come to counseling, some are voluntary, while others are mandated by courts. …show more content…
For one, the Hmong, with the understanding that showing mental illness as weakness, will usually not seek out counselors to fix their problems. The will first go to the family or, even better, the clan elder. They have their own traditional Hmong practices that they would use. Since the Hmong will count the family as their primary treatment for support, counselors will usually only see the Hmong in the treatment center when referred to by government agencies, schools, social work, or professional networks. Therefore, if a counselor does find a client or family in his care, he/she can assume that it is …show more content…
Avoid being impersonal. Consider the clients? perceptions since they influence your interpersonal communication. Your boundaries, professionalism, and directness might come across as cold, distant, and not friendly. Avoid accepting stereotypes. For example, some Hispanic/Latino Americans might not even speak Spanish. So, get to know your clients and assess them to best you can. Avoid being ethnocentric. No one culture is superior to another. So, don?t judge your clients as such. Avoid expecting the typical Hispanic/Latino client. This group is multiethnic. So, you will meet Latinos of multiple racial backgrounds. Be open by the diversity of the Hispanic/Latino community. Avoid focusing solely on an individual-centered approach. Since the Hispanic/Latino community is a family oriented one, don?t rely of the individual centered approach. Incorporate the family into the sessions. Avoid accepting the language barrier as a barrier. If the client has trouble conversing in English, go ahead and have interpreters ready to help you understand the client. If your clientele are mostly Hispanic/Latino, go to college and learn the Spanish language. This shows the client you are truly
Social and Cultural Diversity ? Counseling Considerations
Thomas J. McCarthy
Grand Canyon University: PCN-509
September 7, 2016
Immigrant Culture (Rasmussen, 2011) Recent immigrants are subject to a number of stressors because of leaving some loved ones behind. Therefore, counseling is usually not the first choice for these people. It is family who become their most important support system. But when they do come to counseling, it is important, when assessing the client, to get a history of the events leading up to immigration. When they come to counseling, some are voluntary, while others are mandated by courts. …show more content…
For one, the Hmong, with the understanding that showing mental illness as weakness, will usually not seek out counselors to fix their problems. The will first go to the family or, even better, the clan elder. They have their own traditional Hmong practices that they would use. Since the Hmong will count the family as their primary treatment for support, counselors will usually only see the Hmong in the treatment center when referred to by government agencies, schools, social work, or professional networks. Therefore, if a counselor does find a client or family in his care, he/she can assume that it is …show more content…
Avoid being impersonal. Consider the clients? perceptions since they influence your interpersonal communication. Your boundaries, professionalism, and directness might come across as cold, distant, and not friendly. Avoid accepting stereotypes. For example, some Hispanic/Latino Americans might not even speak Spanish. So, get to know your clients and assess them to best you can. Avoid being ethnocentric. No one culture is superior to another. So, don?t judge your clients as such. Avoid expecting the typical Hispanic/Latino client. This group is multiethnic. So, you will meet Latinos of multiple racial backgrounds. Be open by the diversity of the Hispanic/Latino community. Avoid focusing solely on an individual-centered approach. Since the Hispanic/Latino community is a family oriented one, don?t rely of the individual centered approach. Incorporate the family into the sessions. Avoid accepting the language barrier as a barrier. If the client has trouble conversing in English, go ahead and have interpreters ready to help you understand the client. If your clientele are mostly Hispanic/Latino, go to college and learn the Spanish language. This shows the client you are truly