Understanding Cultural Differences The importance of observation and understanding of the client’s thoughts, actions, and feelings based on the cultural influences affecting their life cannot be understated. …show more content…
As a counselor, you should possess multicultural skills and understand the different strategies use to help your clients. When clients are adjusting to a new cultural setting or when cultural world view is closely related to presenting concerns. It may be most helpful to focus on cultural issues in counseling. Cultural issues are everywhere, from cultural biases, to the spread of radical cultural beliefs, to cultural identity confusion. The skills that a human service professional will need are many to help clients overcome the negative outcome of their feelings, thoughts and actions. “Human diversity is a significant factor in working with all people, It is not only a determinant of individual and social functioning; it also affects every aspect of practice in human service” (Levine, J., 2013). The professional’s ability to be self-aware of their own cultural issues, thoughts, and feelings is also very important in their growth as a human service …show more content…
Is it a supportive role, a direct honest role, a listening role? The client can determine this by asking a few questions about what role they expect the counselor to play in the relationship. This gives the client power and control, but it really is just being supportive and communicative in the helping process.
Examples of Cultural Awareness and Identity
Counselors can help clients by asking specific questions so the client can become aware of their own cultural identity. This can be a series of questions that will allow the clients to think and answer truthfully. This method helps the counselor to gain insight and get to the root of what is really going on with them. This will also give the client the opportunity to identify with their culture and focus on ways to adapt and accept living in a new culture.
For example, Dr. Hamada asked Maria to think of ways her thoughts may have been impacted since moving to Hawaii. From her response the counselor was able to learn about the client’s negative thoughts. Maria is Cuban-American female and she is married to a soldier who has been deployed to war a few months. She came to counseling to deal with her depression. For Maria, being away from home is affecting her as well. Moving to Hawaii has caused her to become detached socially and become negative in her