Introduction Within the counseling profession, there is an ever-increasing awareness of multicultural issues and the application of multicultural competencies. Both the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) Code of Ethics, and the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Diversity’s (AMCD) Multicultural Counseling Competencies, directly address the consideration of diversity and culture within diagnosis and therapeutic relationship. Code E.5.c in the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) states, “Counselors recognize historical and social prejudices in the misdiagnosis and pathologizing of certain individuals and groups and strive to become aware of and address such biases in themselves or others,” (p. 11). This code is extremely pertinent to the
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According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (2013), JGH, for a period of “2 weeks or more,” must meet at least “5 or more of symptoms listed for MDD (p. 160). He meets for Criteria A by his reported (and observed) depressed mood (A1), diminished pleasure in activities (A2), an observable significant weight loss and reported decreased appetite (A3), reported difficulties sleeping, both falling asleep and disrupted sleep (A4), diminished energy (A6), feelings of worthlessness and guilt (A7) and trouble concentrating (A8) (Manson, as cited in Butcher, Hooley, and Mineka, 2013). These symptoms are having a direct effect on important social and other functioning areas for JGH, which meet for Criteria B of MDD (APA, 2013). Based on self-reporting the absence of alcohol or other substances, as well as physical conditions, it can be concluded that symptoms are not a result of substance use or medical concerns, meeting for Criteria C of MDD (APA, …show more content…
Taking into account and respecting JGH’s Native American culture, this assessor identified Z71.9 Other Counseling or Consultation as an area for clinical consideration. The AMCD (1992) states, “Culturally skilled counselors respect indigenous helping practices and respect minority community intrinsic help-giving networks,” (p. 3). Therefore, due to a lack of information surrounding specific catalysts for this depressive episode, or the potential for indigenous helping practices, the assessor is making MDD a provisional diagnosis until culturally-specific consultation is respected and
According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (2013), JGH, for a period of “2 weeks or more,” must meet at least “5 or more of symptoms listed for MDD (p. 160). He meets for Criteria A by his reported (and observed) depressed mood (A1), diminished pleasure in activities (A2), an observable significant weight loss and reported decreased appetite (A3), reported difficulties sleeping, both falling asleep and disrupted sleep (A4), diminished energy (A6), feelings of worthlessness and guilt (A7) and trouble concentrating (A8) (Manson, as cited in Butcher, Hooley, and Mineka, 2013). These symptoms are having a direct effect on important social and other functioning areas for JGH, which meet for Criteria B of MDD (APA, 2013). Based on self-reporting the absence of alcohol or other substances, as well as physical conditions, it can be concluded that symptoms are not a result of substance use or medical concerns, meeting for Criteria C of MDD (APA, …show more content…
Taking into account and respecting JGH’s Native American culture, this assessor identified Z71.9 Other Counseling or Consultation as an area for clinical consideration. The AMCD (1992) states, “Culturally skilled counselors respect indigenous helping practices and respect minority community intrinsic help-giving networks,” (p. 3). Therefore, due to a lack of information surrounding specific catalysts for this depressive episode, or the potential for indigenous helping practices, the assessor is making MDD a provisional diagnosis until culturally-specific consultation is respected and