CHAPTER 19: Themes in Multicultural Counseling Theory, Practice and Research

1. CHAPTER 19:Themes in Multicultural Counseling Theory, Practice and Research Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach Second Edition Danica G. Hays and Bradley T. Erford

2. Moving Toward Multicultural Competency • Developing multicultural competency has been at the forefront of counseling theory, practice, and research • Focus has been on disproportionate use of mental health services and the impact of mental health services among racial and ethnic minorities • Initiatives in academic and clinical practice • Evaluating and revising key multicultural counseling constructs • Increasing attention to the role of systemic forces and impact of privilege and oppression experiences • Differentiating as well as searching for commonalities among various cultural groups • Critically examining and transforming counseling theory and case conceptualization

3. Moving Toward Multicultural Competency Continued • Multicultural counseling theory, practice, and research are interdependent constructs • Developing multicultural competency is a dynamic and cyclical process • Cycle continues as we gain a clearer understanding of what and why interventions work in multicultural counseling • Multicultural competencies gained when working with particular individuals and families do not necessarily apply to others with similar characteristics and experiences

4. Themes in Cultural Identity Development • Oppression, enculturation, acculturation, and culture shock are unique influences on cultural identity development of • Understanding own and clients’ cultural identity development process is an important foundation • Models of cultural identity development developed through the examination self in the context of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and spirituality • Cultural identity models normalize the process and associated advantages or challenges that we face as we come to know ourselves as cultural beings

5. Themes in Social Advocacy & Oppression • Understanding of clients’ experiences of oppression contributes to the shaping of empowerment and social advocacy efforts. • The –isms that encompass this theme are interdependent • Social justice counseling may require a paradigm shift for counselors • Traditional counseling approaches may need to be abandoned for more systemic approaches • The satisfaction that can come from social justice work typically outweighs the costs

6. Themes in Cultural Diversity • Cultural diversity = unique characteristics of various racial, ethnic, and other cultural groups • Heightened knowledge and awareness alerts counselors to universal shared experiences, values and customs, variations within groups, and individual differences • Importance in determining subpopulation variations as well as individual variations • Need to recognize, acknowledge, and respect the influence of culture on clients’ experiences

7. Themes in Multicultural Conceptualization • Counselors’ understanding of clients is often shaped by the theoretical models and diagnostic criteria most commonly taught • These traditional theories and mechanisms for diagnosis are predominantly based on the meaning-making systems of White middle-class men of European heritage • Diverse clients with values, beliefs, and behaviors typical of their culture, yet in contrast to the norms on which these models were based, risk being perceived as deviant and mentally unhealthy • Necessary to continue researching effective approaches to multicultural conceptualization & diagnosis to ensure best practices

8. Where Do We Go From Here? Future Directions for Developing Multicultural Competency

9. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Theory • Future directions in multicultural counseling theory involve two separate discussions: 1. The appropriateness and expansion of current theoretical orientations 2. Our “theory” or conceptualization of what constitutes multicultural counseling and thus multicultural counseling competency • Dodo hypothesis= counseling theoretical approaches may be equally efficacious for optimal client outcomes to the degree they possess certain “common factors”

10. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Theory Cont. • “Common factors” or core conditions of a therapeutic alliance • Client’s affective relationship to the counselor • Client’s capacity to purposefully work in therapy • Counselor’s empathic understanding and involvement • Client-counselor agreement on goals and tasks of therapy • Multicultural theories • Multicultural Counseling and Therapy (MCT) • Empowerment Theory • Relational-Cultural Theory

11. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Theory Cont. • Need to explore diverse populations’ perceptions of common factors • Current theoretical approaches must continue to evolve as our roles within the profession expand • The “Theory” of Multicultural Competency: • Should continue to be expanded to apply MCC standards to work with individuals of minority statuses other than race/ethnicity as well as intersections of identities

12. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Practice • Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Practice: • “How does the client view the counselor’s multicultural competency?” • Lack of research about this topic • Much more focus is needed on clients’ perceptions of what makes a counselor multiculturally competent

13. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Practice Cont. • Multicultural counseling practice also involves integrating many roles: • Working with individuals, families, and groups in traditional clinical and educational settings • Empowering clients • Linking social and community services • Providing guidance and support across the lifespan • Consulting and collaborating with other health professionals, as well as social and community members

14. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Practice Cont. • How much do we attend to context as counselors? • Expanded counselors’ roles to include more attention to context and social injustice in clients’ lives • Etic versus emic perspective

15. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Research • Two key issues complicate the study of the clinical and daily practices of culturally diverse populations: • Varying definitions of multiculturalism, multicultural counseling, and multicultural research • Methodological issues in research design and data interpretation • Collaboration between researchers and participants is a concern as we move toward engaging in multiculturally competent research

16. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Research Cont. • Definitional & methodological issues in counseling research design: • A majority of multicultural counseling literature has historically described and examined racial and ethnic differences only • The traditional definitions of multicultural and multicultural counseling have influenced multicultural research • Multicultural research has been interested in understanding both etic and emic aspects of behavior and attitude

17. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Research • Validity threats = the degree of risk that the relationship between an independent variable & some outcome is not valid • Examples of threats to validity include: instruments which yield unreliable results, history and maturation bias, intersecting variables, and selection bias • Problems when interpreting findings across multicultural populations • Has often used Whites or European Americans as the norm in interpreting constructs of interest

18. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Research Cont. • Researcher-Participant Collaboration • Suggestions for engaging minority communities in research: • Outline and weigh the benefits and challenges for the scientific and participant communities prior to beginning research • Offer incentives to potential participants • Network and gain support from community leaders • Be familiar with populations you would like to study • Maintain personal contact and build rapport with participants throughout the research process • Give something back to communities • Make research a two-way learning process

19. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Research Cont. • Participatory action research methods • Collaborative approach to problem-solving between the researcher and other stakeholders • Researchers and participants work together to: • identify the needs of a community • study processes related to a particular group or phenomenon. • assure findings are “true” for that community • present findings to a variety of communities at various levels (e.g., scientific, academic, social, cultural) • work to create beneficial changes in communities based on the findings • Counseling researchers should always reflect on their practices to prevent bias within research designs

20. Future Directions in Multicultural Counseling Research Cont. • Future research directions should include the following: • Research based on cultural identity development. • Expand scholarship to include what clients perceive as multiculturally competent counseling practice • Extend research efforts to address the impact of intersecting cultural identities • Increase use of qualitative research methods