Mental Health Counselor: A Case Study In Cultural Identity
Case Study in Cultural Identity
Walden Student
Walden University
Case Study in Cultural Identity
Mental health counselor at some point in counseling will address complexities in determining some identity of clients. Racial identity and consideration is “paramount” to the mental health of any client (Sue & Sue, 2008). Counselor’s must recognize cultural perspectives; understanding how clients see the world, and function as products of their environments. Navigating through complexities of identity will be dependent upon the therapist ability to understand how clients respond to the race of the counselor; which will depend on his or her racial identity development (Sue & Sue, 2008). Keeping in mind that the evolution of counseling …show more content…
As I considered aspects of Sue and Sue (2013) Descriptive Model with our interviewee I observed and conceptualized several processes of his development. Going into the interview I did contemplate conceived notions on the basis of his middle class and White identity. After learning more about aspects of his identity and what was more salient in respect to his identity; I clearly had to re-evaluate my preconceived notions. Sue and Sue (2013) here substantiate individuals are usually, “like a fish in water, [having] difficulty seeing or are unable to see the invisible veil of cultural assumptions, biases, and prejudices that guide their perceptions and actions” (Sue & Sue, 2013, p. 332). I did find inconsistencies with my own perceptions; in contention to what I have been learning throughout the course. When I began the interview I thought our interviewee would just be an average “White guy” who loves to surf and water ski. As I learned more about his childhood experiences and encounters with racism, aspects of his identity became more transparent to me. I begin to overlook the usual stereotypes on the basis of his cultural affiliations and focused more on salient issues involving his spiritual identity and cultural
Walden Student
Walden University
Case Study in Cultural Identity
Mental health counselor at some point in counseling will address complexities in determining some identity of clients. Racial identity and consideration is “paramount” to the mental health of any client (Sue & Sue, 2008). Counselor’s must recognize cultural perspectives; understanding how clients see the world, and function as products of their environments. Navigating through complexities of identity will be dependent upon the therapist ability to understand how clients respond to the race of the counselor; which will depend on his or her racial identity development (Sue & Sue, 2008). Keeping in mind that the evolution of counseling …show more content…
As I considered aspects of Sue and Sue (2013) Descriptive Model with our interviewee I observed and conceptualized several processes of his development. Going into the interview I did contemplate conceived notions on the basis of his middle class and White identity. After learning more about aspects of his identity and what was more salient in respect to his identity; I clearly had to re-evaluate my preconceived notions. Sue and Sue (2013) here substantiate individuals are usually, “like a fish in water, [having] difficulty seeing or are unable to see the invisible veil of cultural assumptions, biases, and prejudices that guide their perceptions and actions” (Sue & Sue, 2013, p. 332). I did find inconsistencies with my own perceptions; in contention to what I have been learning throughout the course. When I began the interview I thought our interviewee would just be an average “White guy” who loves to surf and water ski. As I learned more about his childhood experiences and encounters with racism, aspects of his identity became more transparent to me. I begin to overlook the usual stereotypes on the basis of his cultural affiliations and focused more on salient issues involving his spiritual identity and cultural