Multicultural Skills in Counseling

Counselors work to help others; however, without a basic understanding of multiculturalism, counselors may tend to rely on stereotypes when trying to help their clients. When counselors are able to understand their own personal cultural assumptions and work to understand these aspects of their clients, they are able to provide the best care possible. A counselor's respect for and understanding of multiculturalism can potentially benefit all clients.

Increasing Self-Awareness

• The most basic skill in multicultural counseling is increasing self-awareness. A counselor must first understand her own cultural heritage and point of view. She must use this knowledge to also understand her own prejudices and assumptions about other cultures. While many counselors may deny having prejudices, it is common to internalize the messages heard in the media that propagate such stereotypes. Building this type of self-understanding raises awareness on the part of the counselor and prevents her from bringing these judgments into her relationship with the client.

Theoretical Bias

• Many historic theories used in counseling and psychology are based on Western cultural traditions. As such, some assumptions about appropriate or mentally healthy behaviors, as described by these theories, may be culturally biased. Counselors can overcome this challenge by recognizing the limitations of some of these theories and by studying modern multicultural or culturally friendly theories.

Education

• Student counselors have the option and resources to begin educating themselves about cultures that differ from their own prior to embarking on their careers. However, working counselors can do this as well. Increasing knowledge about cultural differences prepares the counselor for the times when these differences arise. A major cultural difference is that of individualistic versus collectivist cultures. Collectivist cultures are those that emphasize "we," rather than "I" and in which people identify themselves as part of a group. Western cultures, which are often the dominant perspective, are individualistic. Counselors may inadvertently push this perspective on clients. However, when a counselor can see the merits of these different perspectives, he is able to appreciate collectivist cultures and clients.

Language

• Respect for language is an important skill for culturally competent clients. Counselors can respect language differences by providing counseling to clients in their native language when possible. This is helpful even for clients who are bilingual, since people are able to express themselves most clearly when speaking in their native language. Counselors who do not speak the client's native language should understand how to access and appropriately utilize interpreter services.