Essay On Multicultural Competence

Cultural competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professions to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. Multicultural competence requires constant work, study and development as counselors move through their careers. It is ever changing and demands attention. Even though I have been exposure to those from other cultures in business, organizations, school, workplace and social setting it doesn’t make me multicultural competence. In this 21 century, we can’t avoid multiculturalism. Multiculturalism deals with actual human experiences. Concepts of multiculturalism is more than intellectual concepts dealing with race, culture, diversity, disabilities, sexual …show more content…
We must strive to accurately understand the clients and the many characteristics of who they are in their life. Knowledge competencies permit us to understand more about the demographic, cultural, and educational experiences of culturally distinct clients. The more knowledge we have of a client the better understanding we have of them will help us to be more effective in helping them. We must also value diversity, meaning that we must be accepting and respecting of differences between and within cultures. Counselors must know our limitations and understand our emotional reactions to multiculturalism. We need to be true to ourselves and admit to being racist especially if we are not culturally sensitive. I am a black female and counselor I have to search myself for prejudices and unresolved life issues before I can be competent to counselor to anyone. I have to conduct an on-going self-assessment. I have to recognize my own biases and attitudes that impact cross-cultural relationship before I can help someone else. I have to understand my unwillingness or inability that can interfere with cultural