Many experts in the field of child and adolescent counseling have acknowledged the necessity for culturally informed and empirically supported interventions to respond to the mental health needs of an increasingly diverse population (Canino & Spurlock, 2000; Liu & Clay, 2002; Park-Taylor, Ventura, & Ng, 2010). In light of the rising prevalence of emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2000) emphasized the need for more effective and accessible mental health services for children and adolescents. These individuals represent a culturally diverse group. Several studies have been conducted regarding multicultural counseling and culturally diverse individuals. These studies …show more content…
Census Bureau, approximately 21.8% of the U.S. population in 2011 was comprised of non-white individuals. In addition, 16.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino at that time, and approximately 21.9% of children lived below the poverty line. From 2006 to 2008, one in six children in the U.S. were diagnosed with a learning disability (Boyle, et al., 2011). Although there are many other important dimensions of diversity such as family composition, sexual orientation, and physical disabilities, these statistics clearly indicate the need exists for culturally responsive counseling interventions. Despite the growing focus on multicultural counseling in recent years (Worthington, Soth-McNett, & Moreno, 2007) theoretical and conceptual discussions of multicultural issues in counseling are disproportionally represented in the literature compared to empirically-based studies (D’Andrea & Heckman, 2008; Worthington, et al., 2007). Although discussions of theory advance the field, they need to be supplemented with research supporting the use of multicultural counseling …show more content…
M., Stulmaker, H. L., Purswell, K. E. Multicultural dimensions in child counseling research: A systematic review. Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory & Research. Summer/Fall2013. 40(2). 15-32. 18p. LeBeauf, I., Smaby, M., & Maddux, C. (2009). Adapting counseling skills for multicultural and diverse clients. In G.R. Walz, I.C. Bleuer, & R.K. Yep (Eds.), Compelling counseling interventions: VISTAS 2009. 33-42. Alexandria, V.A.: American Counseling Association. Liu, W. M., & Clay, D. L. (2002). Multicultural counseling competencies: Guidelines in working with children and adolescents. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 24,
Latino Families in Therapy Second Edition was published in 2014. Celia Jeas Falicov who is a clinical psychologist, author and currently teaching at the University of California in San Diego wrote the book. As the main contributor of the book Celia’s goal is to help others understand the importance of being competent when working with Latino Families and acknowledging that because the families come from a different background than those giving the interventions we must find therapeutic approaches that will benefit the Latino community. Falicov gives great insight to the different Latino communities that we could encounter and successful evidence based practices that can be used such as a meeting place for culture and therapy (MECA).
Psychotherapy Presenting Concerns and Utilization Trends of Latino-American and International Latino Students in a University Counseling Center Every year, millions of young adults seek out higher education through full time attendance in a college or university setting (National Center for Education Statistics, 2013). The number of students who seek out higher education has increased in recent years, as half of the young adult population is enrolled in some type of college or university (Snyder & Dillow, 2012). However, with the increase of students attending college, the demand for accessible mental health services has grown. Students are showing a nine percent rate of utilization within college counseling centers, a number that has remained steady since 2004 (Kim, Park, La, Chang, & Zane, 2015; Gallagher, 2005).
According to the Rogers & Vismara article, while cultural factors may influence the course of detection, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, child treatment programs for autism tend to lack cultural considerations. One strategy the authors mentioned to address this issue is to train researchers and service providers in cultural competence. What would be some of the essential components of effective cultural competency training that is uniquely catering to culturally diverse children with autism spectrum
Counseling Services in Hispanic Culture The topic of culture used to be largely debated in the world of clinicians and psychologists, fortunately, this is now viewed as a fundamental competency (e.g., Vera & Speight 2003). The American Counseling Association is the largest association of professional counselors worldwide, they define counseling as “a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health”.
In consideration of cultural counseling, social workers will provide interventions to help identify clients’ barriers and identify their family expectations and cultural assumptions that influence their life choices. This tie into helping the client identify ways and solutions when they want to go against their family or cultural expectations, but at the same time be respectful of the client’s overall cultural values and bring awareness to the client that their cultural values and racism may influence their aspirations. Afterwards, the social workers must counsel the client to encourage and promote
Unfortunately, ethnic minorities are identified as a population that is vulnerable to mental health disparities and face unique challenges (Holden et al., 2014). Researchers have come up with numerous factors that may have contributed
As a woman of color, I believe it is essential that I become aware of my own biases in order to help individuals that have different beliefs, values, and cultural practices. When I was done completing the “Multicultural Counseling Competencies: A Self Examination” assessment, I became aware of my strengths, weaknesses, and areas where I need to grow as a future college counselor. To begin with, I notice that I questioned myself continuously whether I take the time to evaluate the limits of my competency when helping a student from a different cultural heritage from mine.
Social contexts will become a more significant factor when the scope of treatment expands to include the client’s family and social circle. The client’s gender identity, ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, and family history will determine what are appropriate referrals and treatment approaches. For example, recovery planning for a Latino woman should allow for her “personal growth and empowerment within a [Latino] cultural and family context” (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), 2009) and referrals to community resources and case managers who specialize in the needs of the Latino community (CSAT, 2009), especially if she is a recent immigrant. Meanwhile, recovery planning for the African-American man should “adopt an Afrocentric perspective to provide a more culturally responsive treatment program” (CSAT, 2009) and include strategies that foster the client’s involvement in the community. When treating minority populations, there may be a greater need for experienced counselors with more developed cultural competence and self-awareness for the purposes of family therapy, which is an integral component of
The first is fostering appropriate counseling practices for people with diverse backgrounds and upbringings. Our local community has shown significant growth in recent years, and I believe utilizing proper counseling skills with a diverse clientele is crucial. Furthermore, I recognize the importance of intersectionality within the counseling profession, as individuals deserve to receive specific and personalized care. Correspondingly, I would appreciate the opportunity to work with Dr. Kenneth M. Coll and his devotion to counseling practices with youth populations who experience limited access to mental health resources due to economic disparities, rural isolation, etc. I am also interested in studying counseling practices regarding addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.
This style of communication can be vastly different from middle-class Caucasians who communicate with a future pretense (1998). Culturally Relevant Interventions When working with Latino client, it’s important to remember that their world view may differ from the world view of the counselor. In order for treatment to be effective and successful counselors need to choice culturally relevant methods and interventions that are going to match the clients world views (Carlson & Carlson, 2000).
Mental health service and cultural competency play an important role in the enhancement of wellness and resilience of clients served. Multicultural competency and diversity continue to impact counselor education, training, theories and interventions. Counseling organizations must reflect cultural competency in many different ways in order to impact a wide range of clients. For this essay, Ms. Katherine Carter was interviewed. She is the director and a licensed Marriage & Family therapist at The Westminster Center.
Brief statement of the problem Hispanic and Latino populations are not being provided with adequate mental health care and are an underserved population (Peters, Sawyer, & Guzman, 2014). There are several barriers, cultural and other, that prevent and dissuade Hispanic and Latino individuals from seeking mental health care (The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2015). Lack of bi-lingual providers is one of the many obstacles this population is faced with. Details of the problem A large minority population: • According to the U.S. 2010 Census, 16% of the total population was of Hispanic or Latino decent.
The intervention strategy recognizes the different racial, ethnic, and cultural origins of immigrant adolescents. It will include culturally sensitive procedures that take into account the particular histories, ideals, and viewpoints of each group. To promote cross-cultural appreciation and understanding, cultural exchange activities, community discussions, and culturally relevant resources will be used. Also, it acknowledges how gender identity and sexual orientation
The article chosen for this analysis is titled “Culturally Different Students in Special Education: Looking Backward to Move Forward” by Donna Y. Ford (2012). It was located by using the Google Scholar online database. The article is published in the Exceptional Children journal. This article was reviewed by experts in the field before it was published. In this article the author sought to identify the need for multicultural courses and degrees that prepare teachers and special educators to be culturally competent would decrease misunderstandings, unnecessary referrals and inappropriate special education identification.
Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 62, 1140B. Evans, K. & Rotter, J. (2000). Multicultural family approaches to career counseling. Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 8, 67-71. 4 Flum, H. (2001)