Multicultural Counseling Portfolio

1. Multicultural Counseling Portfolio Julia Garten Dr. Doris Wright Carroll Summer 2012

2. Everyone is different. We all have unique beliefs and values based upon our ethnicity, gender, abilities, sexual orientation as well as many other variables. As counselors it is pertinent to be aware of these differences and how we can be most effective in working with our diverse students and their needs. This portfolio will provide knowledge about various diverse groups and the best ways to facilitate healthy development among them.

3. What is Multicultural Counseling? Multicultural counseling and therapy can be defined as both a helping role and process that uses modalities and defines goals consistent with the life experiences and cultural values of clients, recognizes client identities to include individual group, and universal dimensions, advocates the use of the universal and cultural-specific strategies and roles in the healing process, and balances the importance of individualism and collectivism in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of client and client systems. (Sue and Sue, 2008)

4. What does it mean to be a Multicultural Counselor? To me, being a multicultural counselor is being aware of my own prejudices and biases towards various ethnic groups, becoming knowledgeable about the beliefs and values of these groups, and using culturally appropriate interventions/strategies when working with these students. In order to reach all of our students, we must format our services to fit their unique needs.

5. My Own Experiences I was raised in a community where there was little diversity. Because of this I was not exposed to many cultures other than my own. It was not until I travelled outside the United Statesthat I saw major differences between beliefs and values of various cultural groups. During the fall semester of 2009, I studied abroad in the Czech Republic where I had the opportunity to travel across Europe. I visited Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, and the Czech Republic- all which had very different cultures and belief systems. The value system of Czech Republic was very different than my own; it was a very liberal town whose predominant religion is atheism. The food, transportation and way of life was a huge culture shock for me because public transportation was mainly used, the food was “plain”, the economy was poorer, and the Czech’s lived an overall very different lifestyle than my American self. Language was a huge barrier when travelling abroad. Although I took an introductory level class for Czech, I only learned the basics to survive. Travelling to the other countries (omitting Ireland) proved to be a feat for an American such as myself, although it was possible to find an English speaker if needed. Public transportation was also prevalent within these countries, as most Europeans didn’t own a car but walked, rode the metro or utilized the bus/tram systems. It definitely took awhile to get used to the public transportation and not being able to just hop in my car and go like I could living in the United States. When I compare the differences between the American and European lifestyles, I think Europeans appreciate aesthetic beauty and the way of life more than Americans. Europe contains some of the most beautiful, old architecture I have ever seen compared to our “cookie cutter” houses and brand new development. Americans are so quick to tear down the old and replace it with new. Museums were also a large part of European culture, they were everywhere. It seems like Europeans are in touch with their cultural history and value the finer things in life. Living outside of the United States definitely gave me insight to how our country is perceived. It was evident that Americans weren’t welcomed or appreciated in many of the places I visited. Americans have the stigma to be rude, obnoxious and arrogant in these countries. Although I don’t consider myself any of the above, I spent a great deal of time trying to prove to the locals that I wasn’t the “typical American.”

6. Countries/Cultures I’ve Experienced • Italy: Milan, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome • Ireland: Galway, Dublin • Netherlands: Amsterdam • Spain: Barcelona • Czech Republic: Prague, KutnaHora • France: Paris • Germany: Munich

8. Cultural/Social Conditioning “Misinformation related to culturally diverse groups is not acquired by our free choice, but rather is imposed through a painful process of social conditioning; all if us were taught to hate and fear others who are different in some way” Living within the United States has it pitfalls. The “melting pot” which accepts diversity has really conditioned us to be biased and hold prejudices against minority groups. Euro-Americans believe they are the superior and inferior to all other cultural groups. Since Caucasians have the power and resources to exert these beliefs, ethnocentric monoculturalism is manifested in the United States’ programs, policies, structures, and education systems. Due to ethnocentric monoculturalism, the invisible veil makes people subconsciously believe that universally “regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, or gender, everyone shares the nature of reality and truth.” As a counselor is it important to be cognizant of this cultural conditioning and not impose my own beliefs and values onto my clients of color. (Sue and Sue, 2008, 88).

9. Worldviews “Worldviews determine how people perceive their relationship to the world. Worldviews are highly correlated with a person’s cultural upbringing and life experiences” (Sue and Sue, 2008). Everyone’s worldview is different and counselors must be cognizant of this in order to not impute their own worldview values on their clients. This could engage in cultural oppression of client As counselors we must obtain empathy and set aside our own worldview and see the world from the eyes of our clients

10. Worldviews It is even more evident after reading this chapter that being Caucasian has influenced my worldviews. Growing up I always heard that the United States was the best place to live and that our way of doing things was the correct way. It even translates into my religion, where I feel like I must be “equally yolked” with the man I one day marry. Who says my religion is the right one? Who says there aren’t other gods to worship? I was raised on these Euro-American beliefs and therefore, deep down I think they are right. It is very tough to challenge my worldview because it has been so deeply embedded within myself, but this textbook has done an amazing job explaining other cultures, their beliefs, and why they “act” the way they do. For example, reading the case of Malachi was really sad for me because the school immediately blamed him as the problem, labeled him with a disorder and wanted to start him on medication. Looking back to my experiences working with staff at elementary schools, I think this probably happens all too often. The “white” culture sees the actions as unhealthy and jumps to the conclusion there is a problem within the individual and proceeds to focus only on the individual and not the entire context of the problem. Well, the problem is the school system and the ethnocentric monoculturalistic society in which we live in wanting others to “fit in” to our society. After reading this chapter I feel like we are very far from social justice as a society because the only groups receiving all the resources they need for success and opportunity in the States are the Caucasians. Other ethnic groups have lowered pay rates and healthcare and education are limited to many ethnic groups, and it is clear that institutional support is lacking. As counselors I think it is essential to understand the worldviews of our clients so we don’t further oppress or discriminate against them in therapy- unintentional or not. The internal locus of control applies to the dominant American society because we value uniqueness, independence and self-reliance of each individual. Thinking back to how I was raised, this is spot-in. If something didn’t go right- it was my fault, if I wanted something done, I had to do it. My parents have instilled in me these Euro-American values and I cannot blame them- it has caused me to be successful thus far in life, and I feel like I can contribute that to my own actions. On the other hand, I live in a very privileged society where I parallel with the dominant race, values, and beliefs; so being successful has come pretty easily for me. While taking this class I try to be very aware of the advantages I have being Caucasian in a Euro-American society and it has become very evident. I think it is important as counselors to realize that many cultures do not accept the values of individualism, but place importance on the group instead. If we counsel based on our own prior schemas, we could potentially harm our clients instead of helping them within their own beliefs and values. (Garten, 2012)

11. White Privilege This chapter and the various White Racial Identity Development Models were very helpful in understanding White privilege and how Caucasians view themselves and their journey through looking at racism. I think one of the most important elements of White privilege is that Caucasians believe they are unbiased and non-racist as well as working towards social justice and helping those less fortunate than themselves. This text has made it clear that Caucasians don’t see the white privilege because cultural conditioning has made being “white” the norm for them and their society. It was interesting to me that women are less likely to be racist, but the more I thought about it, it made sense because women have also been oppressed in the Euro-American society so empathy is more prevalent towards minority groups. I think it is important as counselors to understand what type or status we fall within in the development model because it facilitates growth in cultural competency. To be aware of which status one belongs to will increase self-knowledge and hopefully propel oneself to reach the other stages. When working with clients it could also be helpful to gauge where they are within the model and help facilitate the growth of understanding white privilege and the biases one can hold. If clients or myself can realize that we have engaged in oppression of other ethnic groups we are more likely to progress to the stages of taking action against racism and not just “owning up” to it. Knowledge is power and if students or myself don’t see what being “white” means to them, they will never develop out of the beginning stages of the white racial identity development models. I really appreciated how the text described how Whites are also victims of racism. In my opinion, however, it is the worst kind. We are programmed from childhood to hold biases and prejudices against others based only on skin color. We are blinded by the privileges we are afforded because we take them for granted on a daily basis. We oppress our brothers and sisters and then place the blame on them for not having success in the United States. I wish more Caucasians would be required to take a course such as this to learn about the undeserved rights we obtain and how unaware we often times are of the oppressed groups still prevalent today. I think often times we think racism is a thing of the past, but it is clear and VERY CLEAR it is still evident and thriving in our society today. If only Caucasians could be more educated on the damage we are doing subconsciously to the people within our nation. (Garten, 2012).

12. Microaggressions This chapter on microaggressions has definitely been insightful in helping me understand the struggles people of color battle on a daily basis. Microaggressions are the intentional or unintentional behaviors that portray negative racial insults to the target person or group. There are three types of microaggression, ranging from most obvious/intentional racism to least obvious/unintentional. I found it interesting how the most intentional/overt microaggressions are easiest to handle because the “intent and meaning of the event is clear and indisputable” (Sue, 2008, 113). Although it does make sense, one would think this type of racism would sting the most. I never realized how prevalent these microaggressions were until I read this chapter and saw how even the most unintentional comment can discriminate against other ethnic groups. I found that I, too, am guilty of these microaggressions, although I believe I fall within the latter categories of being unintentional. There have been many times I ask, “Where are you from?” or “Where were you born?” It is obvious I know they are not American, but I never intentionally wanted to throw it in their face- I was just curious and honestly probably liked their physical characteristics. Knowing this now, I am going to be much more aware of the words and behaviors I use because I am also to blame in facilitating negative messages to people of color- and according to the text, no one from the United States is free from biases because our cultural conditioning  has taught us biases about other ethnic groups. Although this is a sad statement for our country, it sort of makes me feel better that it wasn’t my fault I have unintentional biases, but it was social conditioning. One of the microaggressions I found interesting was how even having a lack of diversity within the school environment is a microaggression- how exactly is one suppose to control what group(s) are in the school system? I understand how to control other variables but with this I do not understand. I do believe, however, that microaggressions exist in countries other than the States. While living in the Czech Republic and travelling Europe, there were definitely microaggressions towards Americans in other countries. It was the first time I had ever experienced negative reactions to my background and it was definitely a “culture shock.” For the first time I was nervous to tell locals where I was from, and often times it wasn’t necessary to tell them because their nonverbal and verbal expressions said enough about what they thought about me. I think studying abroad has given me a great foundation for understanding this class and what it must feel like to be a colored group living in an ethnocentric monoculturalistic society. (Garten, 2012).

13. African Americans African Americans are more likely to live in poverty, be a victim of homicide, commit suicide, get a felony, contract an STD and even die at a younger age than White Americans; it is clear this group is very oppressed within our Euro-American society. They perceive their race to be the reason for unemployment and feel that racism and discrimination is still prevalent today- which it is. African American families have adaptability within their family roles, strong kinship bonds, a strong work and achievement ethic, as well as a strong religious orientation. African American families are commonly matriarchal, and the men are more willing to share in the “homemaker” responsibilities because they are more accepting of women’s work roles. They value assertiveness as a group and are also more likely to use physical punishment as a form of discipline, although counselors must be aware that it doesn’t mean the parents aren’t loving and caring towards their children. Because of the non-traditional setup of African American families, it is important to assess the family structure at home and who helps out. Academically, African American boys are at risk for disidentification which causes them to lose interests in academics during middle and high school. On top of this, African American youth struggle with illiteracy. Spirituality is another important aspect of the African American culture, and counselors should be aware of this as well as how to incorporate the church to help as support for the family as well as aiding social and economic issues. When working with African Americans, it is foremost important to be aware of our biases as counselors and to not impose our own values onto our clients. We need to be ready to have multiple roles such as advocate, case manager, problem solver and facilitating mentor. When beginning to work with African American clients it can be helpful to bring up the reaction of the client to a counselor of a different race. Establishing an egalitarian relationship is important and can done my simply by self-disclosing information. It is important to determine whether and how the client has responded to discrimination and racism, as well as establishing healthy ways to deal with these problems. Using African/African American elements of culture can help these clients identify with Afrocentricity, which enhances their self-identity. (Garten, 2012)

14. Asian Americans Asian Americans have a collectivistic orientation. This means that they tend to have a family and group orientation. Instead of the values being like those of the Euro-American tradition (individualism), they are focused on” family harmony, adapting to the needs of others and adherence to ‘correct’ values” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 362). Although the degree to which collectivism is valued over individualism varies between families,  collectivism is still valued over being autonomous and self-directed. Since Asian American families are hierarchal and patriarchal, it is important as a counselor to assess the family structure. I thought it was interesting to address to the father figure first in identifying this information, although it does make sense when he holds the power in the family. Since Asian American parenting styles are authoritative and directive, it is important to help the parents focus on using more positive aspects of their own culture’s child-rearing strategies or help them develop ways to support their children instead of changing the way they discipline. It could also be beneficial to help the parents see the different cultural standards between the Euro-American and Asian ways of raising children. Since Asian American parents place high value on academic success and obtaining a “worthy” career, their children often feel isolated, depressed and anxious due to the pressures to succeed and time spent trying to do so. As counselors it is important to help these students become aware of possible career choices (since they have little knowledge of occupations outside the realm of their parents expectations), while acknowledging the parents side of wanting success for their children but needing to realize there are many more new career options. When working between parent-child conflicts, it is important to reframe the situation to focus on cultural standards/cultural conflict and the expectations from the larger society (holistically). I fall within the category of believing that Asian Americans are hardworking, intelligent and disciplined. I also believe that Asian American parents are harder on their children to succeed, and their form of punishment can be cruel. Although the text states that although this can be true, there is a large gap between the number of the extraordinarily high achievers and the undereducated of the group.  In the future I am going to be cognizant of my biases by not stereotyping my Asian clients to fit the mold of these myths and assess the student from not only an individual perspective but from a family, community, and societal viewpoint to gauge the problem. (Garten, 2012).

15. Hispanic/Latino Americans Hispanics or Latinos include individuals living in the United States with ancestry from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and other Lain American countries. This group is the fastest growing minority group in the country due to high birthrates (Hispanic adolescents are four times more likely than white adolescents to become parents) and ongoing immigration patterns, so it is important as counselors to understand how to work with this population. Hispanics have higher unemployment rates and often worry about deportation from the States. Because of this fear, many Hispanics don’t utilize the resources such as counseling. Family is extremely important for this group, where cooperation over competition is valued. Interpersonal relationships are central to Hispanic families and often times the extended family includes non-blood relatives. Although this can be seen as an advantage to Hispanics, it can also be an additional source of stress. The family structure is hierarchical, with the father being primary authority figure and children expected to be obedient and help out the family when needed. Catholicism has a major influence over this group, and the text recommends utilizing prayer to reinforce problem-solving behaviors. Since sex role expectations are important to Hispanics, it is important to help the family deal with any role changes by reframing the problem as an external, cultural issue while developing solutions within their cultural framework as well. Due to racism and dealing with “family distress, discrimination in the school and community, feelings of hopelessness, and a lack of family support by” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 386) Hispanics are at a greater risk for depression and suicide as well as more likely to join a gang for acceptance. I think it is interesting how the Hispanic who identifies with both Hispanic and the dominant culture (bicultural) is healthier mentally and more functional than the Hispanic who only identifies with one culture; although it does make sense since the perspective does not involve the rejection of either culture but accepts and negotiates aspects of both cultures. The significance of a second language can be a barrier on the success of counseling. Many of the educational difficulties for Hispanics stem from their ability to speak English, so I imagine this carries over into the counseling realm. If clients or their families don’t understand English, it is likely there will be miscommunication between counselor and client, which wouldn’t be effective counseling. As counselors it is important to have a translator available if necessary, as well as use assessments in the client’s native language. (Garten, 2012)

16. Hispanic/Latino Americans Although the physical characteristics from Hispanic groups is similar, there are differences between the groups of Hispanics. The location of where groups reside is different with Mexican Americans living primarily in the Western states, Cubans in Florida, and Puerto Ricans in the Northeastern states. Another difference is that although Hispanics are known to be less fortunate financially, Puerto Ricans have the highest rate of poverty and maybe coincidentally, the highest rates of suicidal behaviors. Cubans are known to have the highest incomes. It is important to take these distinctions into account to know what risky behaviors are more known to which group, as well as stereotypes and biases within the group. Immigration plays a large role within this minority group and it is important as counselors to understand immigration and the issues that play into it. One example from the text shows the obvious distress immigration has on her and her family, “I can remember having to hide when I was a kid…I would come home and my parents would be maybe 20 or 30 minutes late, and I would cry until they got home because I was afraid they had been deported,” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 375). Other issues with immigration include the fear of being caught and therefore avoiding the use of services to evade deportation. Although I think there should be limitations on the number of immigrants allowed into the United States each year, I am a fan of immigration because it gives others a chance at a better life. Since taking this class I have become extremely interested in becoming aware of the various cultures of other groups. One of my friends, a Hispanic, was born in the United States after his parents immigrated illegally from Mexico. After asking him about the differences between Mexican and Euro-American cultures, he was quick to say that American girls are less restricted than Mexican females, and even more promiscious. The text states that adolescent females are severely restricted while male children "are afforded greater freedom to come and go as they please" (Sue and Sue, 2008, 378). He also commented on how he was in ESOL until third grade because his parents spoke Spanish within the home and the entertainment they watched was also in Spanish. He didn't grow up listening to the music his Euro-Americans friends did, so he often catches slack for not knowing older artists. According to the text, this is typical of second-generation Hispanics; exposed to Spanish in the home and English in the school.  (Garten, 2012)

17. Multiracial Descent This chapter was very interesting to read and I empathize a lot with individuals of multiracial descent. Although I don’t understand what it is like to be associated with a minority group, at least individuals associated with only one minority group are typically well perceived by their group. People of multiple races are “often ignored, neglected, and considered nonexistent in out educational materials, media portrayals, and psychological literature” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 390). It is no wonder they often struggle with identity formation and lowered self-esteem…these individuals might not feel a sense of connectedness to any group they are descendents from. They often encounter prejudice and discrimination not only from the dominant group, but from the secondary ethnic groups as well. What makes me feel even more for these individuals is that often times their parents don’t understand how to support them or their biracial identity because they were raised believing and valuing their own culture. Since they don’t understand the challenges faced by their children, there is support lacking at home. Since the number of children living as multiracial is increasing, it is imperative as counselors we understand how to work with these students. I have never thought about the degrading question that is often asked of these individuals- “what are you?” There have been times I have asked similar questions, but once again, it was never in a demeaning way towards the individual. I never realized this question/microaggression often makes the person feel like they don’t belong in our society and that something is wrong with them- it was never my intention. As a counselor I hope I can help these students reach the stage where they feel a wholeness and integration connected to both (or more) identities. Afterall, the text states the one biracial child raised as biracial (compared to those raised monoracial) seemed to be the healthiest of the entire study group. (Garten, 2012)

18. Women As a woman, I am quite aware of the stereotypes and societal pressures placed on females within our society. The pressure to be thin and look like the models on the cover of magazines is very evident. This lead to female’s unrealistic beliefs about the ideal body shape, which further leads to disordered eating patterns and dieting. I must admit, I have fallen victim to this before.  Another issue women struggle with is violence and sexual harassment, whether it be within the workplace or a relationship. I thought it was sad how women respond to the harassment by either ignoring it, taking a leave of absence, or using alcohol to cope. In my opinion, however, I doubt alcohol was the only drug used as a coping strategy for these women.  As counselors it is vital to help these females become cognizant of society’s pressures to be thin, pretty and popular as well as well as gender expectations so the client doesn’t blame themselves. In regards to sexual harassment and violence, it is important to screen women for possible abuse in order to get the clients the help and resources they need. Within the work setting, it is obvious to me that women are oppressed compared to men living in the United States, and probably across the world. Women are not excepted in career s outside of the traditional females roles, are less likely to be given pertinent information regarding the job, receive less mentoring, and they even get paid less than males when working within the same positions. Women feel the need to perform at a higher level than men to be appreciated in the workplace. I also believe that counselors are more likely to impose career choices on their students that fit the traditional gender roles present today. As counselors I think it is important to educate both men and women on non-traditional career choices that might be fitting to the student. Providing opportunities to shadow within the workplace and materials on women’s career development would be beneficial for these women as well. Counselors can help develop career self-efficacy in clients by helping them “develop self-evaluation skills, identifying career paths by successful women, promoting skills to deal with anxiety, and helping them understand the impact of gender socialization issues in their careers” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 472). (Garten, 2012)

19. Native Americans/Alaskan Natives “American Indians/Alaskan Natives (American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut) from a highly heterogeneous group composed of 561 distinct tribes, some of which consist of only four or five members” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 347). This minority group has an experience unlike any other group because instead of struggling to gain equality with little resources like most minority groups, they had the resources which were eventually stripped of them and forced to assimilate to the mainstream culture; creating a distrust of the Euro-Americans. I can’t say I blame them. Due to forced assimilation, this group has lost ties with their cultural heritage because traditions haven’t been able to be passed down the generations. I honestly feel so much for this group of people- why couldn’t the Caucasians leave the Native Indians alone and let them keep their culture and language? I think personally, the forced assimilation of American Indians has lead to many of the problematic issues facing them today. Not only do they face issues due to the expectations between both their native traditional values and the majority culture, but they are less likely to graduate, have a lower income, two times the poverty rate, six times the alcoholism mortality rate, higher injury related death, higher rates of domestic violence, mood/anxiety disorders, substance abuse and suicide than that of the U.S. population. Medically, obesity and diabetes are also much higher. The family dynamics can vary greatly from being matriarchal to patriarchal, but common themes exist within these structures: the family is typically considered to be the basic unit consisting of distant relatives and even non-blood friends who often help raise the children but live in separate households. There are high fertility rates, high number of out-of-wedlock births and strong roles for women common among these groups. As counselors, we must determine the roles of all “family members” so interventions can include the appropriate individuals.

20. Native Americans/Alaskan Natives Although great diversity exists between American Indians/Alaskan Natives, there are key elements in most groups regarding their values: sharing, cooperation, noninterference, time orientation, spirituality and nonverbal communication. As counselors it is important to determine whether specific behaviors are due to cultural values or actual problems. As associated with sharing and cooperation, this group appreciates collectivism and the tribe is of “fundamental importance” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 348) and they see themselves as extensions of their tribe. Because of this, interventions should include an assessment of the importance of the tribal relationships within any decision making process. Often times the Native American sees the tribe as a means of occupation so they drop out of school to work on the reservation- leading to the high dropout rates among this group. Changes need to be made a systems level to accommodate to the social and cultural differences between this group as well as use a curriculum that reflects the students’ cultural background. (Garten, 2012) (Garten, 2012)

21. Immigrants There are estimates that over 33 million immigrants are living in the United States, totaling about 12% the entire population. Majority of the immigrants are from Mexico, with Latin America being the next top contributor. Immigrants have either a green card, are naturalized citizens, or are undocumented in US. The United States has implemented unfair and exclusionary policies and laws towards immigrants, and often negativity occurs towards this group when they are seen as taking jobs from those born in the US in times of need. Children of immigrants born as citizens in the US often have fear and anxiety towards the immigration status of family members even though they are US citizens themselves.  “One of the most difficult challenges faced by immigrants is their adjustment and adaptation to a completely different society, cultural customs, and the mixed reception by U.S. citizens” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 427). These individuals experience culture shock which often leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, disorientation, helplessness, anxiety, and depression. On top of the problematic issues these individuals face, they are less likely to utilize healthcare services due to fear of deportation, even if they are permanent U.S. citizens. They feel that seeking assistance might show they are unable to live in the US independently. As counselors it is important to be aware of these concerns and discuss them with our immigrant clients as well as knowing the rights and exclusions for them. The counselor will need to act as an educator and advocate for these clients and offer services within the community using culturally relevant services. (Garten, 2012)

22. Refugees In my opinion, this would be the most difficult group to belong to. I think it is so sad how refugees flee from their country because of persecution, only to enter a nation who further oppresses and discriminates against them. “Between 1987 and the year 2,000, the United States admitted about 460,000 refugees” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 431).  Although majority of refugees are able to make a healthy transition to life in the US, they often experience trauma, loss, and feelings of displacement. This is probably why they are more at risk for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, depression and anxiety. They are often forced to leave family members and loved ones behind, which leads to guilt and a sense of loss. Although refugees are worried about losing their cultural identity, the main concern when working with the group is their safety and reassurance needs to be given about confidentiality and the therapeutic process. Other issues facing this group are males struggling with feelings of powerlessness given a loss of status and possible unemployment, while women may experience domestic violence but be socially conditioned to ignore their own pains to take care of the family. When working with these clients it is important to consider the language barriers and how it will affect the counseling process. Having an interpreter is a great way to break this language barrier but it is important to be aware that often times the client forms a relationship with the interpreter before the counselor. To me, this makes sense, but I could see how this could bother many counselors trying to build trust and rapport with their client. (Garten, 2012)

23. Sexual Minorities The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning  (GLBTQ) group of individuals make up roughly 4 to 10 percent of the United States population. It is estimated that 1.2 million people are part of gay and lesbian couples, showing a dramatic increase of 300% since 1990 (Sue and Sue, 2008, 447). GLBTQ individuals refer to the affectional and/or sexual orientation to a person of the same sex. Men prefer to be called gay men why women prefer to be referred to as lesbian. Although GLBTQ can be any ethnic group, it is important to realize they are still a minority group and they “share the experiences of stereotyping, stigmatization by psychology, social and cultural life, and reactions of majority members of society. In addition, people of color and LGB individuals undergo similar processes of identity development [as ethnic minority groups]” ((Israel and Selvidge, 2003). Although there have been many positive developments for this group, there are still biases and discrimination held against this group.  I already knew this and am sort of surprised the text mentioned this, but it is important to realize that homosexuality is not a mental disorder, although society’s discrimination of this group does lead to elevated rates of Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts/attempts, personal-safety issues, and high-risk sexual behaviors. As a counselor it is important to address these problems at both individual and systemic levels because the root of the problem often lies in the environment and not within the individual. “To improve the school environment, inclusion of gay and transgender issues in the curriculum, addressing self-management and social skills relevant to GLBTQ youth, provision of adequate social services, and a non-discriminatory school environment can be advocated” (Sue and Sue, 2008, 449). Having policies in place that protect this group  from harassment, as well as providing support groups, counseling services and safe places for this group to meet and socialize would be beneficial for this group. (Garten, 2012)

24. Sexual Minorities Identity issues are prevalent for this group of individuals, as awareness of sexual orientation for gays tends to occur in the early teens. Many individuals in this group feel alone or isolated while struggling to learn and accept their own identity compared to society’s definition of what is healthy. As counselors it is important to help these individuals develop coping and survival skills as well as expand the environmental supports. Being aware of the resources available for this group as well as promoting diversity in sexual orientation within the school can also be a support for this group.It is important to be aware that many GLBTQ individuals are afraid to “come out” due to discrimination from their family and friends. Often times parents feel a loss for their children and guilt upon themselves which can lead to rejection, anger and grief. As counselors it is important to carefully consider the consequences of coming out, as sometimes it is best for the client not to tell. During this process it is also important to help the client identify the external sources for their issues over identity rather than allowing them to blame themselves. (Garten, 2012)

25. Racial and Cultural Minority Identity Development There are many characteristics in common across the various racial identity development models. Each model views healthy development as a progressive movement from naivety to awareness and putting the awareness into action. The individuals set beliefs are challenged by situations or events which confronts a person’s previous schema and behaving. This typically causes inner conflict with the self which eventually ends up with appreciating one’s own cultural heritage. Components of the racial identity development models:-African Americans: pre-encounter, encounter, immersion-emersion, internalization, and internalization-commitment-Asian Americans: ethnic awareness, White identification, awakening to social political consciousness, redirection and incorporation.-Latino/Hispanic Americans: causal, cognitive, consequence, working-through, and successful resolution -Caucasian: naivete, conformity, dissonance, resistance and immersion, introspective, integrative awareness, and commitment to antiracist action The RCID model will be useful in counseling work because it will act as a guide when working with minority clients by helping the counselor gain a better understanding of the client. When you have a better understanding of how your client perceives the world, the more effective you will be as a counselor. The model helps the counselor foresee possible beliefs and behaviors the client would encounter in the current and following stages as well as planning for effective interventions. Something I thought was very sad is how a study showed that African Americs children preferred playing with a Caucasian baby doll over their own race because they believed the darker skinned doll was bad. I find it even more sad how 1/3 of the children picked up the Caucasian doll when asked to choose the doll that looked like them. This is a prime example of social and cultural conditioning that takes place within the United States. It honestly just makes me really sad that so many people hold self-hatred because the US has brainwashed them to believe they are not beautiful if they are not White. Another example of cultural conditioning is Asian ladies having surgery to reshape their eyes to look more like the Caucasian’s eye shape. It really shows how minority individuals view beauty based on Euro-American standards. (Garten, 2012).

26. Our Role as Counselors *BECOME CULTURALLY COMPETENT -awareness, knowledge, skills (alternative approaches, methods and interventions) *Create a trusting, supportive environment for all students which caters to their unique values and beliefs; open communication; rapport building *Understand the different modes of communication (high vs. low context) *Advocate for all students *Promote systematic change *Educate the system (staff and students) *Be aware of our own biases and prejudices/worldviews/culture

27. Continued Growth as a Counselor *Never stop learning about other minority groups *Know it takes time to reach cultural competency; comes through lived experience and reality *Attend professional development opportunities; knowledge is power *Immerge myself in the culture of other groups (meetings, activities, spending time wit people from another culture or racial group) *Work on accepting my own “whiteness” *Be a counselor of action; doesn’t just “talk the talk” but “walks the walk”

28. Prescription for Multicultural Learning and Awareness Be open-minded and aware of my own biases against others. Do not be quick to judge, but see the person in a holistic point-of-view. Realize when I am perceiving others and imposing my beliefs based on my own values. Never forget the unearned privileges I obtain while others struggle for the necessities of life. Never stop learning about other ethnicities and their culture- knowledge is power. Be aware of the struggles each group faces independently and gain the skills to effectively work with these groups. Embrace diversity and the beautiful differences among various cultural groups. Help change not only the individual, but the corrupt system. And “above all, love each other deeply because love conquers a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8 (Garten, 2012)

29. References • Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2008). Counseling the culturally diverse: theory and practice. (5 ed.). Hoboken: Wiley & Sons, Inc. • Garten, J. A. (Summer 2012). Daily postings [Online forum comment]. Retrieved from www.online.ksu.edu

30. Portfolio Self-Evaluation • Self-evaluation