The implication of these readings as far as multicultural counseling is concerned infers that counselors need to understand how factors like gender, social class, age, sexual orientation, religion, and education backgrounds tend to intersect with ethnicity, race and cultures in the client’s lives (Nassar-McMillan, 2007). This means that minority groups require exception skills and understanding of their worldview to assist them. These factors make individuals to have a different worldview from others in the society and their worldview has to be respected for successful counseling. Counselors need to be aware of the how their clients construct their worldview and the above mentioned factors are likely to be prevalent in construction of worldview.
Minority groups are likely to feel left out in the mainstream society.
They are different worldview from the society and they also seem to have different needs in counseling from those of other individuals in the society. Most of the clients from minority groups will feel at ease when they interact with individuals who share similar worldview. This has an implication in counseling in the sense that counselors have to abandon their worldview when dealing with these clients and bringing themselves to the level of their clients. Counselors must have in-depth knowledge and understand of the worldview of their clients. This means that counselors must have multi-ethnic skills to be able to deal with different clients.
When working with individuals who have multiple identities and from the groups that have been studied in this reading, it is important that counselors first become aware of the worldview of these individuals (Dwairy, 2006). Then, counselors should try to live the world of these individuals by basing counseling on their worldview. This will ensure that they feel appreciated during counseling and hence improve the effectiveness of the counseling sessions.
Question B
Cross cultural issues are very important in counseling. For counseling to be successful, counselor must understand the worldview of their clients and be able to integrate this worldview in the counseling process. Rather than giving the clients their worldview, counselors should be able to understand the client’s worldview and base counseling on this worldview. According to Deborah (2005) most of the minority ethnic groups in the country hold different worldviews from the western communities and these differences are manifested in counseling set up. Before a counselor handles a client from minority groups, they need to be aware of worldviews related to that particular ethnic group.
American Indians represent one of the groups that rarely utilize counseling services. Studies dating back to early 1970s showed that Natives did not utilize or value counseling service that did not adapt Native helping model. Most of the western counseling services are based on non-indigenous conceptions and values of health and healing and rarely on Native beliefs (Duran, 2006). Most counselors are not well educated on Indigenous worldviews, their current issues and the histories, which means most counselors are likely to use a western-based approach that do not align with Native’s worldview. Research also shows that American Indians clients will feel at ease when being counseled by counselors who understands their worldview. They are more comfortable when counselors are American Indians and more open-minded. In addition, they would be more comfortable when the counselor has a thorough knowledge on Native culture and values. Based on these worldviews and their differences with the western worldviews, Americans Indians are more likely to be mistrustful and reluctant to be involved with mental health professionals and are more likely to prefer ethnically similar counselors.
According to Deborah (2005) there are eight concepts of self that is likely to determine counseling practices for American Indians. A strongest foundation of American Indians and their worldview is the concept of how the individuals are involved with the group (Duran, 2006). This differs with western culture that is based on self. Second, in relation to the group, American Indians are likely to work for the good of the whole group rather than the individual. If the group is doing well, the individual is well too. Third, American Indians are more concerned with their present life and have little consideration of the future. Fourth, American Indians are not likely to follow what other say but rather the listen to others but make their own decision. Fifth, Americans Indians wear an impressive face even during hard times which means they may appear okay when they are undergoing a lot of problems. Sixth, American Indians have a long reference to the nature and they interpret their wellbeing in relation to the nature. Seventh, they interpret their well being in relation to religion. Worship is a part of their life. Eighth, American Indians do not feel at ease in western cultures.
In light of these factors, counselors should realize that they need to understand American Indians worldview for effective counseling. They need to know the community well including their beliefs. Counselors also need to establish trust and rapport. Counsellors need to understand that American Indians are likely to value their life in reference to the community and therefore counseling should be geared towards harmonizing individual with the community and their religious world (Duran, 2006). In reference to their view on the community, counselors should include families in the intervention and pay attention to their ethnic greetings, dress, and introduction to conversation. Where possible, counselors should use group counseling as it is likely to be more successful in this group. In order to get experience of American Indians world, counselors need to participate in their lives.