CHAPTER 3 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING COMPETENCE FOR MINORITY GROUP COUNSELORS/THERAPISTS

The Politics of Interethnic and Interracial Bias Minority prejudice toward other minority groups occurs under the umbrella of White racial superiority and supremacy. There is historic justification for not “airing dirty laundry” between groups. However, people of color do hold prejudicial attitudes toward one another and majority group members, and these can be barriers to effective treatment.

Cultural Differences in Values Shared and non shared values held by groups of color may lead to camaraderie or tension. Example: Respect for elders is a value traditionally held by Asian and African Americans. Expression of this value, however, differs. While an Asian American may avoid eye contact to show respect, an African American may find this disrespectful.

Cultural Differences in Communication Styles Native Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans tend to be non confrontational and indirect. African Americans tend to be direct, passionate, and forthright. Whites tend to favor a direct approach with direct eye contact.  

Issues Regarding Ethnic Identity Depending on therapists’ racial/ethnic identity, reactions to members of their own race and other races will differ considerably. Ethnic minority therapists may have to acknowledge and resolve identity issues since it may affect their reactions to a client from the same ethnicity, or in dealing with White clients. The more divergent the cultural attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are between the client and counselor, the more conflict there may be in the therapeutic relationship.

Challenges Associated With Counseling White Clients Situation One: Having the Competency of the Therapist of Color Challenged

Challenges Associated With Counseling White Clients Situation Two: Needing to Prove Competence

Challenges Associated With Counseling White Clients Situation Three: Transferring Animosity to White Clients

Challenges Associated With Counseling White Clients Situation Four: Unrealistically Viewing the Therapist as a Super Minority Therapist

Challenges Associated With Counseling White Clients Situation Five: Dealing With Expressions of Racist Attitudes/Beliefs/Behaviors

Situation Six: Overidentification With the Client Challenges Associated With Counseling Clients of Another Minority Group or Own Group Situation Six: Overidentification With the Client

Situation Seven: Encountering Clashes in Cultural Values Challenges Associated With Counseling Clients of Another Minority Group or Own Group Situation Seven: Encountering Clashes in Cultural Values

Challenges Associated With Counseling Clients of Another Minority Group or Own Group Situation Eight: Encountering Clashes in Communication and Therapeutic Styles

Situation Nine: Receiving and Expressing Racial Animosity Challenges Associated With Counseling Clients of Another Minority Group or Own Group Situation Nine: Receiving and Expressing Racial Animosity

Situation Ten: Dealing with the Stage of Racial Identity of Counselors Challenges Associated With Counseling Clients of Another Minority Group or Own Group Situation Ten: Dealing with the Stage of Racial Identity of Counselors and Clients

Implications for Clinical Practice People of color are not immune from having biases and prejudices. Avoid the “who’s more oppressed” trap. All oppression is damaging and serves to separate rather than unify. Don’t let interethnic/interracial conflicts destroy intergroup unity.

Implications for Clinical Practice Not all bad things that happen to people of color are the results of racism. While blaming the victim is detrimental to our psychological well-being, it is equally destructive to attribute all negative events in our lives to racism. Know that understanding your own worldview and how it may potentially clash with that of clients of color is important.

Implications for Clinical Practice Realize that your communication style may impact the client. Being able to anticipate your social impact on others and modifying it so as to relate better to clients are very important. It is important to realize that your awareness of who you are as a racial/cultural being is paramount to working effectively with other clients of color. Be comfortable addressing topics like race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Implications for Clinical Practice White people can be valuable allies. The enemy is White supremacy, not White Americans. Don’t write off people’s racially insensitive remarks without a chance for rectification. We must form multicultural alliances. Being bicultural or multicultural is not selling out. Being able to function in White society is different from “acting White.”