1. CHAPTER 8 CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

2. Communication Styles  It is important that the therapist and client send and receive both verbal and nonverbal messages accurately and appropriately.  Most therapists seem more concerned with the accuracy of communication than with whether the communication is appropriate.

3. 37 Send messages  Make themselves understood

4. 38 Receive messages  Attend to clients

5. 39 Verbal  Content of what is said

6. 40 Nonverbal  How something is said

7. 41 Accuracy  Getting to the heart of the matter

8. 42 Appropriate  Does it fit the client and is it sensitive to the clients worldview

9. Nonverbal Communication  Generally occurs outside the level of conscious awareness  Varies from culture to culture  Is important within the counseling context

10. Proxemics Refers to perception and use of personal and interpersonal space:  Violation may cause one to withdraw, become angry, or create conflict.  Some cultures are okay with being very close.  If the counselor backs away, this may be seen as aloofness or coldness.  Counselor may misinterpret client’s closeness.

11. 44 Proxemics  Status, power, superiority  Seating and furniture

12. Kinesics Refers to bodily movements (e.g., facial expression, posture, gestures, eye contact):  Japanese smile may mean discomfort.  Latin Americans shake hands with vigor.  Eye contact varies according to culture.

13. Paralanguage Refers to vocal cues other than words (i.e., loudness of voice, pauses, silences, etc.):  Caseworker may misinterpret silences or speaking in a soft tone.  Speaking loudly may not indicate anger but rather a cultural style.

14. 46 Paralanguage  Hesitation  Rate inflections  Speaking order  Direct vs indirect

15. Context in Communication  Directness of a conversation or the degree of frankness also varies considerably among various cultures.  High-Context Communication—anchored in the physical context—less reliant on explicit code (e.g., many Asian cultures)  Low-Context Communication—greater reliance on verbal parts of the message (e.g., Western)

16. 49 Communication Style Differences  Table 8.1, page 227  How these styles affect the therapist’s perception and ability to work with culturally different clients is important for counselors to consider.

17. Sociopolitical Facets of Nonverbal Communication  Nonverbal cues are important because they can unconsciously reflect our biases and stereotypes of others.  Communication styles of people of color are often denigrated and seen as inferior by Whites.

18. Counseling and Therapy as Communication Style  Different forms of psychotherapy possess varied communication styles (e.g., Rogers emphasized attending skills; Shostrom relied on direct guidance; Lazarus took an active reeducative style).  In general, people of color prefer more active, directive forms of helping than nondirective ones.

19. Implications for Practice  Recognize that no one style of counseling will be appropriate for all situations.  Become knowledgeable about how race, culture, and gender affect communication styles.  Become aware of your own style.  Obtain additional training and education on a variety of theoretical orientations and approaches.  Think holistically rather than in a reductionist manner when conceptualizing the human condition.  Training programs need to use an approach that calls for openness and flexibility in conceptualizing issues and skill building.