Kawa Model Reflection Paper

During this semester, we have read many chapters and articles and have had many discussions about issues related to culture in our work. What, if anything, in your opinion, does the article by Munoz add to our knowledge about cultural issues in our work places? Is there anything mentioned in the article that you can add to your approach to practice that has not been mentioned in our readings previously? What is your impression of the research methods used and the way in which the research was explained?
I found this week’s reading a summary of various concepts that we have learned throughout this coursework. Munoz (2007) shared some interesting strategies on implementing cultural skills that can be implemented into practice when working with the cultural diverse population. The cultural competency model described by Wells and Black (2000) and Sue et al (1992) emphasized that multicultural education is critical for practitioners to become culturally proficient. Whereas, Iwama (2005) emphasized on the kawa (river) model as a culturally relative approach to understanding the person in a sociocultural context. I feel, all these different models …show more content…
Although I have tried to understand the barriers and cultural beliefs and values of the clients to steer the therapy process. The Kawa model could help the practitioners steer interventions that embrace culture and its influence on occupation for the culturally diverse client. This model could collaborate with different disciplines to provide a holistic approach. As I was raised in a collectivist culture, where values and beliefs of an individual are corroborated by other members of the society and are not centered on self. The insight into the client’s culture could strengthen rapport with the client and establish a sense of trust, and respect which would influence practice and positive outcomes with the