By: Christina L. Richardson Chapter 7 Barriers to Multicultural Counseling and Therapy: Individual and Family Perspectives By: Christina L. Richardson

What do you think are some of the barriers to multicultural counseling?

Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Culture-Bound Values These are the values that people have learned to do, believe, value and enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOHv Mz7dl2A -Totality of ideals, beliefs, skills, tools, customs, and institutions into which each member of society is born. – Sue and Sue -among bicultural people the process of negotiating between dual groups may cause problems. Stonequist coined the term marginal person it is an inability to form dual ethnic id’s.

Focus on the Individuals Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Competition between individuals for status, recognition, achievement, etc. Identity is not seen apart from the group orientation (collectivism) Family values -Counseling is seen as “I” centered -In some cultures the greatest punitive consequence is to be disowned and shame or the family vs guilt of the individual -How does you view culture, individual or family?

Verbal/Emotional/Behavioral Expressiveness Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Verbal Articulate Able to express their thoughts and feelings clearly Typical “talk therapy” silence Restraint of strong feelings -Western: -If feelings are not verbalized, they do not exist -View non verbal communication as being passive -chinese culture children are told not to speak until spoken to -therapist who are older and wiser are shown respect with silence -restraint of strong feelings, anger and frustration, love and affection What other verbal/emotional culture “rules” does your family have?

Insight Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Beneficial for individuals to gain insight or understanding into their underlying dynamics and causes Insight is a back burner thought to current issues Self-thinking -insight is not highly valued by many cultures -With all the current issues, bills, day care etc, one doesn’t have time to sit and reflect -Asian cultures believe that thinking too much about something can cause problems -Also insight into self if not a family structured phenomenon

Self-Disclosure (Openness and Intimacy) Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures The ability to self-disclose and talk about the most intimate aspects of one’s life Don’t reveal personal matters to strangers Disclosure is a part of intimate relationships -lack of self disclosure, is seen as having negative features such as being guarded, mistrustful, or paranoid 1.) self disclosure reflect not only on the individual but on the family as well. Life long friendships and prolonged contact Counseling is not a friendship. It is a 50 minute meeting, once a week Do you think that is an accurate assessment of how people view counseling in general?

Scientific Empiricism Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Highly linear, analytic and verbal Non linear, holistic, and harmonious -therapist rely on use of linear problem solving, quantitative equations, psychodiagnostic test, intelligence test, personality inventories, etc., cause-effect relationships -American Indians have a holistic and intuitive view of the world

Distinctions Between Mental and Physical Functioning Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Counseling/ Therapy is a journey Expect immediate solutions and concrete tangible forms of treatment American indians, Asian, African and latinos differ from westerners on what constitutes mental health, mental illness, and adjustment -non physcial conditions would be referred to a physician, priest or minister -Would your family members attend counseling, what would they expect? Would it be for a specific need or general “mental check in”?

Ambiguity Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Counseling/ Therapy is a journey Ambiguous and unstructured nature of counseling may create issues -discomfort among african americans. -unknown and mystifying -Anxiety and frustration -Want the session to go somewhere, goes back to insight

Patterns of Communication Culture-Bound Values Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Conversation moves from client to counselor Some cultures will not speak until spoken to, out of respect Therapy should be directive and active on the part of the counselor -client is to take major responsibility of the conversation, counselor less active role -counselor may take the responses/silence as negative instead of a sign of respect

Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Class-Bound Values Low Socioeconomic Class Failure of Empathy within the helping profession Classism -Low socioeconomic class presents stressors to people, especially those in poverty, and may seriously undermine the mental and physical health of clients -failure of helping professionals to understand the life circumstances of clients who lack financial resources and/or their unintentional class biases may affect their ability to deliver appropriate mental health services -classism and its discriminating nature can nake its appearance in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of lower socioeconomic clients -values of assessments are those of middle class -minority standard time, use to waiting so they arrive late. -Expect immediate help with issues, so one meeting a week for 50 minutes does little to help with immediate needs -working with the lower socioeconomic class requires the following -therapist must spend time understanding their own biases and prejudices, use of words like white trash, hillbilly, uppity, “white trashism” -how poverty affects the lives of people that lack financial resources. Behaviors associated with survival should not be pathologized -consider taboos against information-giving activities and more active approach in treatment might be more appropriate than the passive, insight oriented, and long term models of therapy. -poverty and economic disparities that are root causes affecting the mental health and quality of life of people in our society demand social justice approach

Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Language Barriers Interpreters -often times western counselors may feel that using a child to interpret the conversation between adults, is okay. What could be some issues with this? -can create stress and hurt the traditional parent-child relationship -children lack the vocabulary and emotional maturity to serve as effective interpreters -children may be placed in a situation where they are privy to confidential information, i.e. medical, psychiatric etc -maybe unfairly burden with emotional responsibilities -use of professional interpreters allow diverse patients to feel like they have a voice. -counselors must allow for more time in sessions when using an interpreter -interpreter must realize/understand confidentiality -clients may build a relationship with interpreter because of the shared information

Patterns of “American” Cultural Assumptions Barriers to Multicultural Counseling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTd8XS5UA4g -Family systems theory may be equally culture bound? Why? -importance of family over individual -focus on resolving concrete issues -concerned with family structure and dynamics -assumptions about generational history of structure and dynamics of family -place the therapist in an expert position -the figure above is the building blocks of understanding the 4 main groups that we are studying, they are the basic assumptions -therapist should -encourage expressions of feelings freely -even though it is not the norm, view each member as having the right to be unique, individual apart from family -equal division of labor -nuclear family as standard

Patterns of “American” Cultural Assumptions Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Area of Relationships Middle-Class White Americans Asian Americans American Indians Black Americans Hispanic Americans People to nature/environment Mastery over Harmony with Time Orientation Future Past-present Present People Relations Individual Collateral Preferred mode of activity Doing Being-in-becoming Nature of man Good/Bad Good -Family systems theory may be equally culture bound? Why? -importance of family over individual -focus on resolving concrete issues -concerned with family structure and dynamics -assumptions about generational history of structure and dynamics of family -place the therapist in an expert position -the figure above is the building blocks of understanding the 4 main groups that we are studying, they are the basic assumptions -therapist should -encourage expressions of feelings freely -even though it is not the norm, view each member as having the right to be unique, individual apart from family -equal division of labor -nuclear family as standard

People-Nature Relationships Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Believes in mastery and control over nature Problems are attacked directly Harmony Indirectly solve problems Believe in “acts of God” -counselors on western POV believe that problems are solvable, clients must take an active role in solving problems via manipulation and control -attempts at directly solving family problems, may disrupt the harmony

Time Dimension Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Future American Indian focus on the now, no rushing Hispanics mark time by events All cultures collectively look at present time -time is a commodity, time is money Saving for a rainy day, planning for one’s future, achievement to be better than their parents Does your family future think?

Relational Dimension Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Individual Achieve oriented society Collateral units, not just immediate family, but kinships/cousins -Western/individualism: individual is the psychosocial unit of operation; individual has primary responsibilty for his or her own actions, independence and autonomy are highly rewarded and valued; one should be internally directed and controlled -Japan and china: your existence and identity are linked to the past -History has played a role in the extension of the African American family. In a society where they have attempted to destroy the black family, extended and distant relatives have become apart of the immediate family. Puerto Rican society, hiring of a relative once you reach a certain level is expected; in Western society is is frowned upon. Why do you think that is?

Activity Dimension Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Master/control Always do things about a situation Pragmatic and utilitarian view of life American Indians/Latinos – being-in-becoming Asian/African Americans - doing -American Indians Being-in-becoming: inner fulfillment, one’s place within the universe, self determination, non interference; each person is fulfilling a purpose and no one has the power to interfere with that. -Hispanics Being-in-becoming: born with dignity and must be given respect; inner soul and spirit are more important than the body. People are fated to whatever roles they, what is God’s will Asian doing: achievement via conformity to family values and demands African American doing: what are you doing to minimize discrimination and maximize success, what are you doing for the race as a whole? Do you see this in your culture?

Nature of People Dimension Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Western Cultures Non – Western Cultures Good/Bad American Indians/Asians – emphasize the inherent good in people Hispanic/African Americans – mixed, good/bad Western: view of the people is neutral. Conditioning, family upbringing, socialization are dominant forces in determining the nature of the person Native americans: people have an innate capacity to advance and grow (self fulfillment) Asians: the good way of life; seeking help from outside is nonproductive and against the dictates of asian philosophy Latinos: human nature is both good and bad (mixed). Preferred mode of help religious consultations. Appeal to supernatural forces so that children may be blessed with a good human nature. A child’s badness may be attributed to destiny African americans: mixed concept as well. High crime rates, poverty, and the current structure of the AA family is a result of historical and current oppresion. Westerners have a genetic inferiority and pathology, AA’s people are born the way they are, does not help to alleviate the AA view of themselves or westerners.

Generalizations and Stereotypes: Some Cautions Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Be cognizant of the generic characteristics of counseling and psychotherapy (Western civilization oriented) Be ready to provide adequate multilingual services Consider providing community counseling services that reach out to minority clients Realize that minority’s problems and concerns are often systematic external rather than internal psychological With diversity comes different cultural concepts of the family Families are a sum of all their parts, cultural, social, political Be careful NOT to overgeneralize or STEREOTYPE! Be better… Practice Better! -Stereotypes may be defined as rigid preconceptions we hold about all people who are members of a certain group. Leaves no room for individual variations Variables for race does not mean that all people coming from that background/race/culture has those traits Ensure that generalizations do not become stereotypes ACTIVITY!!!

Activity: Circles of My Multicultural Self Barriers to Multicultural Counseling On your paper there are 5 circles. Write your name in the center circle In the 4 outlying circles write a dimension of your identity that you consider to be important, ex. Female, athlete, Jewish, brother, educator, Asian American, middle class, and so on, or any descriptor that you identify with. Write a P next to the dimension that makes you most proud. Write a S next to the dimension that is most painful to be identified with.

Place your name in the center circle of the structure below Place your name in the center circle of the structure below. Write an important aspect of your identity in each of the satellite circles -- an identifier or descriptor that you feel is important in defining you. This can include anything: Asian American, female, mother, athlete, educator, Taoist, scientist, or any descriptor with which you identify. Activity: Circles of My Multicultural Self Barriers to Multicultural Counseling At the bottom of your paper there is this sentence. I am (a/an) _____________________ but I am NOT (a/an)_____________________. Fill the first sentence in with one of your dimensions/identifiers and the second sentence with a stereotype for that identifier.

Place your name in the center circle of the structure below Place your name in the center circle of the structure below. Write an important aspect of your identity in each of the satellite circles -- an identifier or descriptor that you feel is important in defining you. This can include anything: Asian American, female, mother, athlete, educator, Taoist, scientist, or any descriptor with which you identify. Activity: Circles of My Multicultural Self Barriers to Multicultural Counseling Your paper should look like this! I am (a/an) African American but I am NOT (a/an) ignorant/ghetto person. Christina black Christian mother middle class P S

Barriers to Multicultural Counseling THE END! QUESTIONS????