In the professional field, it is important to understand cultural diversity. Multiculturalism includes a wide range of areas that counsellors need to consider, including “gender, sexual orientation, age, spirituality, religion, social class, disability”, as well as “nationality, ethnicity and race” (Schulz, Sheppard, Lehr & Shepard, 2006 p.118). Code A1 clearly states the requirements of maintaining “a high standard of professional competence” (CCPA, 2007 p. 5), which requires representative knowledge of all possible clients (e.g. code A10 “understanding the diversity within Canada” ((CCPA 2011)) to approach counselling by respecting clients’ cultural and minimize the imposing values of the counsellor on the process. And while counsellors
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As a means to minimize barriers to service, recognizing the ongoing need to develop culturally inclusive knowledge adheres to ethical and legal standards of practice, yet also respects the society in which we live.
Firstly, literature reiterates the counsellor’s need to understand his/her culture; it is a process of self-awareness, which is also an important competency, for counselling professionals to be cognisant of how their culture might be influencing their practice (e.g. biases). Secondly, considering the culture outside of their own, this includes recognizing differences (e.g. differences amongst individuals within the same ethnic group) (Schultz et al. 2006). Through this, the ability in recognizing gaps in understanding and/or the limitation in competency of cultural awareness for the counsellor.
Within practice, empowering and validating the client to speak and, in some cases, educate the counsellor on their culture may benefit the relationship building. Counselling is a safe place to learn about each client as individuals; counsellors are to value and celebrate the diversity of their clients, as well as how culture may impact on living, including conflict in belief and value systems from the majority culture. Overall, counsellors require flexibility in their practice as involving in a rigid counselling process can be detrimental to the therapeutic relationship and create ineffective approaches to
As a means to minimize barriers to service, recognizing the ongoing need to develop culturally inclusive knowledge adheres to ethical and legal standards of practice, yet also respects the society in which we live.
Firstly, literature reiterates the counsellor’s need to understand his/her culture; it is a process of self-awareness, which is also an important competency, for counselling professionals to be cognisant of how their culture might be influencing their practice (e.g. biases). Secondly, considering the culture outside of their own, this includes recognizing differences (e.g. differences amongst individuals within the same ethnic group) (Schultz et al. 2006). Through this, the ability in recognizing gaps in understanding and/or the limitation in competency of cultural awareness for the counsellor.
Within practice, empowering and validating the client to speak and, in some cases, educate the counsellor on their culture may benefit the relationship building. Counselling is a safe place to learn about each client as individuals; counsellors are to value and celebrate the diversity of their clients, as well as how culture may impact on living, including conflict in belief and value systems from the majority culture. Overall, counsellors require flexibility in their practice as involving in a rigid counselling process can be detrimental to the therapeutic relationship and create ineffective approaches to