Theories of Counseling: Multicultural Counseling
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Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2004
Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
All helping methods exist within a cultural context. MCT recognizes the differences among and within clients. Looks at how family and cultural factors affect ones worldview.
Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2004
Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
Therapists strive to liberate clients from personal, social and economic oppression. Clients are liberated from self-blame and shown how their problems often exist in a social context. Independence is basic to philosophy and action in MCT.
Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2004
Multicultural Counseling
Approaches to Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
The Universal Approach:
Culture is define in a broad, inclusive and universal way. Teaches about the danger of stereotyping. Emphasizes the importance of language and loyalty to ones own cultural group. Provides information about acculturation and oppression. Discusses the importance of gender roles. Facilitates identity development. Builds self-esteem and awareness. Facilitates understanding of worldview.
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Multicultural Counseling
Approaches to Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
The Focused Culture-Specific Approach:
The counselor examines his or her own racial beliefs and attitudes. Discusses racially relevant topics and is willing to work on issues of oppression. The counselor views clients on two levels: Individual and as members of a group.
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Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT) as Metatheory
MCT recognizes culture as an internalized, subjective perspective formed against a backdrop of contrasting cultural backgrounds. Points out the importance in seeing the individual in context. It is concerned with cultural intentionality. Traditional theories are modified in ways that show respect for human diversity.
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Multicultural Counseling
Introspective Developmental Counseling
Naikan
Therapy: Is aimed at assisting clients
in finding meaning in their lives and in repairing damaged relationships. It moves the client from self-centeredness to awareness of interpersonal relationships.
Multicultural Counseling
The Integrative Life Pattern Model
This is a decisional counseling model that raises a persons awareness of multicultural issues. A lifelong pattern of identifying our primary needs, roles and goals and integrating these within ourselves, our work and our family. Clients make decisions about their total development: Physical, intellectual, social/emotional, vocational, sexual etc. Four major life roles: Loving, learning, labor and leisure.
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Multicultural Counseling
Cultural Identity Development Theory
This is a cognitive, emotional and behavioral progression through stages of awareness and involves different attitudes towards oneself at the different stages. Generally the stages are:
Awareness of self as a cultural being. Encounter with cultural issues. Naming of these cultural issues. Reflection on the meaning of self as a cultural being. Internalization about self-in-system.
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Multicultural Counseling
MCT Practice and Multiple Helping Roles
Network Therapy:
Integrates community relationships and community into family therapy. Can include the nuclear family, extended family, important neighbors, and key figures from the community (priest, teacher, the police etc.) One focus is to help the client build meaningful community and interpersonal relationships to foster positive mental well-being.
Multicultural Counseling
Points to Remember with Network Therapy
Dont expect to do it all yourself. Network therapy utilizes a treatment team. Use multiple theoretical approaches. Different theories may be beneficial at different times with the same client. Consider the value of network treatment for all clients. People do not live in vacuums and their issues or problems affect others around them.
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Multicultural Counseling
Family Therapy and Multicultural Issues
The multicultural treatment of choice is often family therapy. Family is defined culturally and the roles, relationships and rules can be different among and between cultures. Cultural expectations play a role in every family and group experience. A significant component of our self-concept is derived from our ethnic heritage. Ethnic heritage also can shape our attitudes and beliefs.
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Multicultural Counseling
Traditional Healing
Usually based on the epistemology and belief system of the culture. Counselors may sometimes need to work with traditional healers (e.g. a medicine man) in order to best serve the client. Traditional healers have always included family and the larger community in treatment. As Western theories begin to do so also, these two approaches are becoming closer. It is important not to adopt traditional practices without first consulting with the host culture to show the proper respect for their traditions.
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Multicultural Counseling
Liberation of Consciousness: Self-in-Relation
Freires Five Levels of Consciousness:
Nave consciousness: Blame for oneself for ones condition. Identification with the oppressor: The oppressed find within the oppressor their model of personhood. Anger: As one discovers ones level of oppression, one becomes angry. Reflection on the self as a cultural being: This leads to action. Sees self-in-system: Personal identity is made by the self in relation to
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Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Respect
Religion/Spirituality Sexuality Identity Ethnic/Racial Identity Trauma Language Location of Residence Economic Class Psychological Maturity Chronological Challenges Family History Unique Psychical Characteristics
Identify your own level of cultural identity in relationship to each of the above concepts.
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Multicultural Counseling
The Foundational Concepts of Empathy and Multicultural Competence
Acceptance is the foundation of empathy. The feelings you experience within yourself are the key to your own degree of acceptance toward others. Rogers core conditions form the backbone for empathic relationships. Counselors need to be aware of their own cultural values and beliefs. Counselors need to be aware of their clients worldview. Counselors need to use culturally appropriate intervention strategies.
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Multicultural Counseling
Relating Educational Method to Counseling Theory and Practice
Inviting a narrative. Reexperiencing the sensory dimensions of cultural identity issues. Making the narrative concrete and specific. Moving to a reflective consciousness. Seeing self-in-relation or self-in-system.
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Multicultural Counseling
Limitations of Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
The counselor needs to be highly competent in traditional theory. The counselor needs to have a in-depth understanding of MCT metatheory. The counselor needs to develop a knowledge of many different cultures. There is a small research base on MCT It challenges traditional therapies. It can be difficult for practicing counselors to incorporate it.
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Multicultural Counseling
Strengths of Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
It is a theoretical orientation in and of itself. It provides a framework to address the needs of the culturally different and provides an alternative to theories empirically validated on white, middle-class males. Numerous interventions can be applied through this approach. It is flexible and considers the needs of the individual in relationship to the community.
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Resources
Ivey, A. E., DAndrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn & Bacon. James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and psychotherapy, 5th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
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