Diversity and Difference
UNIT 2
COUNSELLING IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY FEB 2010
Based upon your readings and other sources, give some examples of different family systems and beliefs, and indicate how these may affect the outcomes of counselling.
Defining main cultural traditions
“It is essential to understand our own cultural heritage and world view, before we set about assisting other people.” (Ibrahim,1985; Lauver,1986).
It was noted by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2006, that
“practitioners must consider and address their own prejudices and how they stereotype others. They must ensure that anti- discriminative practice is integral to their work when using Counselling skills.” (BACP, 2006)
Race
“Research shows clients from ethnic minority groups are the least likely to make use of Counselling services.” (Multicultural Counselling, National Guidance Research Forum, UK)
“....the most important explanation for the problem in services delivery involves the inability of therapists to provide culturally responsive forms of treatment. The assumption, and a good one, is that most therapists are not familiar with cultural backgrounds or styles of various ethnic minority groups, and have received training primarily developed for anglo, or mainstream, Americans.” (Bernal and Padilla, 1982, Chunn, Dunston Ross-Sheriff, 1983, Wyatt and Parham, 1985)
Most Counselling techniques have been developed along the lines of White, Western, middle-class lines, and so may have flaws when applied to Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, or Native Americans, which has led to under-use of mental health services by these groups:
“..in general, ethnic minorities experience a higher proportion of poverty and social stressors typically regarded as antecedents of psychiatric and psychological disorders than whites...yet...are often underserved by high-quality mental health resources (Wu and Windle, 1980)
“Can the
COUNSELLING IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY FEB 2010
Based upon your readings and other sources, give some examples of different family systems and beliefs, and indicate how these may affect the outcomes of counselling.
Defining main cultural traditions
“It is essential to understand our own cultural heritage and world view, before we set about assisting other people.” (Ibrahim,1985; Lauver,1986).
It was noted by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2006, that
“practitioners must consider and address their own prejudices and how they stereotype others. They must ensure that anti- discriminative practice is integral to their work when using Counselling skills.” (BACP, 2006)
Race
“Research shows clients from ethnic minority groups are the least likely to make use of Counselling services.” (Multicultural Counselling, National Guidance Research Forum, UK)
“....the most important explanation for the problem in services delivery involves the inability of therapists to provide culturally responsive forms of treatment. The assumption, and a good one, is that most therapists are not familiar with cultural backgrounds or styles of various ethnic minority groups, and have received training primarily developed for anglo, or mainstream, Americans.” (Bernal and Padilla, 1982, Chunn, Dunston Ross-Sheriff, 1983, Wyatt and Parham, 1985)
Most Counselling techniques have been developed along the lines of White, Western, middle-class lines, and so may have flaws when applied to Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, or Native Americans, which has led to under-use of mental health services by these groups:
“..in general, ethnic minorities experience a higher proportion of poverty and social stressors typically regarded as antecedents of psychiatric and psychological disorders than whites...yet...are often underserved by high-quality mental health resources (Wu and Windle, 1980)
“Can the
Bibliography: British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Various Articles, 2006 Chunn, J C, Dunston, P J & Ross-Sheriff, E (1983) Mental Health and people of colour, Curriculum development and change, Washington DC, Howard University Press. Corey, G, Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2005, Belmont, Brooks-Cole Hall, M, “Improving Relationships Across Cultures”, IET, October 2009 Lammana, M and Riedmann, A, Marriages and families; Making Choices in a Diverse Society, 2005, Belmont, Thomson Publishing. Mearns, D and Thorne, B, Person Centred Counselling in Action, 2001, London, Sage Publications Rogers, C (1980) A Way of Being, Boston, Houghton-Mifflin Romero, D White, M and Epston, D, Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends, 1990, New York, Norton publications