Self Awareness and Cultural Understanding Chapter 2 Vacc, DeVaney & Brendel

Cultural Encapsulation 1. Lack of exposure to diverse group 2. attaching little importance to noted cultural differences between themselves and their clients. 3. maintaining the conviction that certain counseling and therapy methods are universally applicable. 4. lack of willingness to explore and question their own beliefs. Particularly in regards tto stereotypes, biases, and assumptions.

Cultural Encapsulation Must challenge your assumptions – FIRST “Counselor know thy self.”

Cultural learning Modeling Infusion – subtle and quiet Assimilation (domestication) Intentionality – mindfulness Unintentional – automatically infused with a 2nd culture once comfortable and accepted by the people.

Intensifying awareness Intentionality – purposeful, Individuals hold ______________ molded by culture Values Biases Stereotypes Communication patterns Recognize your ___________ at the same time understanding the process by which awareness happens.

Values Value free or value neutral Goal setting becomes difficult because “If don’t know where you are going, you will end of somewhere else.” What happens when no one sets the goal for counseling? Example: RaeAnn http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED _85.htm

stereotypes Collective beliefs about classes of individuals, groups or objects( Axelson, 1993) Different then prejudice – “preconceived judgment or opinion without just grounds or sufficient knowledge” (Axelson, 1993, p. 155) Racial remarks, sexual remarks, and gender remarks are the biggest stereotypes.

Communication Differences Communication from the environment Mental map – filters out foreign or unintelligible information “noise” (Hoopes, 1981) obstacles to effective communication Cultural code – everything has meaning Silence Dress Smiles Taste in music Eye contact Touch Facial expressions