Working with Diverse Clients Chapter Eight

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 2 2 The Changing Face of America  One-third of Americans are ethnic minorities.  Past immigrants were European; recent immigrants are from Latin America and Asia.  Immigrants want to assert their cultural heritage.  Changes in the religious composition  Diversity in Christianity  Changes in sex-role identity and the role of women  Increased awareness and acceptance of sexual minorities  Increased awareness and sensitivity to other special groups  See Figure 8.1, p. 226

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 3 3 Developing Cultural Competence  The ideal training program will provide more than a desire to help people.  It will provide you with expertise at working with clients from diverse backgrounds.  It will provide you with a multicultural perspective.  It will provide you with attitudes, knowledge, and skills and different cultures.  It will provide you with models which you can apply to your work with people from diverse backgrounds.  Let’s take a look

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 4 4 Multicultural Counseling Competence Model  It is important for helpers to have  Appropriate attitudes and beliefs.  Knowledge about their clients’ culture.  Repertoire of skills and tools.  Helpers must apply each of the above in each of the three areas below:  Awareness of the client’s world.  Awareness of the helper’s own cultural values.  Ability to use culturally appropriate intervention and strategies.  See visual, top of p. 228 and descriptions that follow

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 5 5 Multicultural Counseling Competence Model  Attitudes and beliefs — awareness of the helper’s own background, biases, stereotypes, and values; acceptance of the difference between the helper and client  Knowledge — of the helper’s own cultural heritage and of the group from which the client comes; awareness of how social and political issues can negatively affect clients  Read Box 8.1  Skills  Generic interviewing and helping skills  Specialized skills and interventions  Understanding verbal and nonverbal language  Understanding the impact of family and society  Ability to collaborate, advocate, and refer  Read Box 8.2

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 6 6 The RESPECTFUL Model Explore these 10 factors: R—Religious and spirituality E—Economic class background S—Sexual identity P—Psychological development and maturity E—Ethnic/cultural/racial background C—Chronological-developmental challenges T—Threats to the personal well-being of the client F—Family history and dynamics U—Unique physical characteristics L—Language and location of residence

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 7 7 Tripartite Model of Personal Identity  Model for understanding how a client is the same as the helper and how a client is different from the helper  Three levels: individual, group, and universal  Review and discuss Figure 8.3 on page 231

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 8 8 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients  The Role of Culture and Race in the Helping Relationship  Although there are many differences between cultures and ethnic groups, these broad suggestions can be applied to all groups:  Have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills.  Do not let language be a barrier.  Understand the racial/cultural identity of the client.  Check that you are accurately interpreting nonverbal communication.  Use alternative methods as well as conversation.  Examine how social/political issues affect your client.  Encourage clients to share culturally significant and personally relevant items.  Vary the helping environment.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 9 9 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  The Role of Religion in the Helping Relationship  Helpers need to understand the diversity of religious beliefs in America. 1.Have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. 2.Determine the clients’ religious background early in the relationship. 3.Ask the client how important religion is to them. 4.Assess the level of faith development. 5.Do not make false assumptions. 6.Become familiar with religious holidays and beliefs. 7.Understand that region can affect a client on an unconscious level.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 10 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  Role of Gender in the Helping Relationship (Gender-Aware Helping)  Respect the right of the clients to choose their own gender role, regardless of political correctness.  Common differences between men and women (See Table 8.1)  Guidelines for Helping Women 1.Have right attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, and skills 2.Assure you adapted helping approach for women 3.Establish relationship, give up your power, demystify relationship 4.Identify social/political issues related to client’s problems 5.Validate and legitimize a woman’s angry feelings toward her predicament 6.Learn about women’s issues and help healing with this new knowledge. 7.Provide a safe environment as clients understand new connections with women. 8.Provide a safe environment to help women understand their anger toward men. 9.Help clients deal with conflicting feelings between traditional and newfound values. 10.Facilitate the integration of new identity. 11.Say goodbye.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 11 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  Gender Aware Helping (Cont’d)  Guidelines for Helping Men 1.Have right attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, and skills 2.Accept men where they are; build trust. 3.Do not push them to express feelings. 4.Early in the helping relationship, validate men’s feelings, regardless of what they are (men have fragile egos!). 5.Validate the man’s view of how he has been constrained by stereotypes. 6.Develop goals. 7.Discuss developmental issues. 8.Slowly encourage expression of new feelings. 9.Encourage behavioral change. 10.Explore underlying issues and reinforce new ways of thinking and new behaviors 11.Encourage integration of new ways of thinking and new behaviors. 12.Encourage male relationships. 13.Say goodbye

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 12 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  Gay, Bisexual, and Lesbian Individuals in the Helping Relationship  Sexual orientation is determined early in life by biological factors.  Although social factors may be an influence, choice is not an option.  Stereotypes flourish: 48% of Americans believe that homosexuality is morally wrong.  Guidelines: 1.A helper needs to have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. 2.Have a gay, lesbian, and bisexual friendly office 3.Help clients to understand and combat oppression of society. 4.Have an affirmative and non heterosexist attitude. 5.Do not jump to conclusions about lifestyle. 6.Understand the differences between gay, lesbian, and bisexuals. 7.Know about community resources that may be helpful. 8.Know identity issues. 9.Understand the complexity of sexuality. 10.Understand the idiosyncrasies of different religious views regarding homosexuality. 11.Recognize unique issues these clients may have.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 13 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  The Homeless and the Poor in the Helping Relationship  700,000 people homeless each day  19% of children live in poverty  Guidelines 1.A helper needs to have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. 2.Focus on client’s social issues (e.g., help clients obtain basic needs if necessary) 3.Know the ethnic background of a client. 4.Be knowledgeable about health risks. 5.Be prepared to deal with multiple issues. 6.Be knowledgeable about developmental delays; be ready to refer. 7.Understand psychological effects. 8.Know community resources. 9.Be an advocate and stay committed.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 14 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  The Older Person in the Helping Relationship  About 13% of the population is over 65.  By 2030, 20% will be over 65  Guidelines 1.A helper needs to have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. 2.Adapt your helping style to fit the clients’ physical needs. 3.Build a trusting relationship. 4.Be knowledgeable about issues many older persons face. 5.Know about possible and probable health changes. 6.Have empathy for changes in interpersonal relationships. 7.Know about physical and psychological causes of sexual dysfunction. 8.Involve the clients’ family and friends.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 15 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  HIV-Positive Individuals in the Helping Relationship  Over one million people are living with HIV; 1 in 5 are unaware of it.  In world, 33 million children and adults are living with HIV  600,00 Americans have died from AIDS  Guidelines 1.A helper needs to have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. 2.Know the cultural background of your client. 3.Understand the disease; combat myths. 4.Be prepared to take on uncommon roles. 5.Be prepared to deal with unique treatment issues. 6.Deal with your own feelings about mortality. 7.Understand ethical and legal implications. 8.Offer a “strength based” approach.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 16 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  The Chronically Mentally Ill in the Helping Relationship  26% of Americans are diagnosed with a mental disorder every year.  26% of homeless people may have psychiatric or mental health problems.  Guidelines 1.A helper needs to have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills. 2.Help clients understand their illness. 3.Help client work through feelings concerning his or her mental illness. 4.Ensure attendance. 5.Assure compliance with medication, 6.Assure ccurate diagnosis. 7.Revaluate treatment plans; do not give up. 8.Involve the clients’ family. 9.Know resources.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 17 Guidelines for Working with Diverse Clients (Cont’d)  Individuals with Disabilities in the Helping Relationship  Approximately 54.4 million Americans have a disability (18.7%)  Many different kinds of disabilities.  Federal rules offer the right to many services.  Guidelines  A helper needs to have the right attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills.  Have knowledge of the many disabling conditions  Help clients understand their disability.  Assist the client with the grieving process.  Know referral sources.  Know the law; inform your client of the law.  Refer for vocational/career counseling.  Include the family.  Be an advocate.  Empower your clients.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 18 Ethical, Professional, and Legal Issues/Effective HSPs  Making Wise Decisions  Ethical codes can “reflect the dominant culture’s values at the expense of minority values” (Ridley, et al., 2001, p. 187)  Therefore, we need to make wise decisions when following our ethical code… do they embody bias? Should we make decisions in other ways (moral decision-making)  Whatever you do—do it wisely.  The Effective Human Service Professional  Cultural competence can be achieved in many ways (see list top of p. 247).  Remembers that learning is a lifelong process.

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 19 Summary  The cultural/ethnic/religious mix in America today  How to work with diverse populations  The Multicultural Competence model  The RESPECTFUL model  The Tripartite model  General guidelines about working with a range of special groups of people  Ethical, professional, and legal issues

©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning 20 Exercises See pp  Offensive terms and jokes  Gaining knowledge about specific groups  Ethical dilemmas