Cultural Competency Definition
Cultural competency and cultural sensitivity are key ingredients to working effectively with diverse counseling clientele. Having the ability to work with diverse populations is important because counselors need to be able to meet the needs of those they serve. Despite this, there is a gap in research about how to develop these essential skills. Multicultural counseling is a required course in many counselor graduate training programs. Even though programs can simulate the real world in the classroom and educational settings, authentic experiential learning constructs an opportunity that equips students for professional settings and careers. Additionally, it is important to expand on multiculturalism beyond one class. This study examines the
…show more content…
Despite this, there is a gap in research about how to develop these essential skills. Self-reports of counseling trainees demonstrate feelings of under preparedness to engage in effective counseling with diverse populations and minorities upon the conclusion of academic programs (Kim & Lyons, 2003; Lee, 2013). This occurs even though multicultural counseling is a required course in many counselor graduate training programs (Sue & Sue, 2012).
Although we can simulate the real world in the classroom, authentic experiential learning constructs an opportunity that equips students for professional settings and careers. Additionally, it is important to expand on multiculturalism beyond one class. Even though there are studies that examine cultural immersion and offer support for its use as an intervention to increase cultural competency and sensitivity, further research is still warranted. Limited data exists, in specific regards, to counselors in training and domestic immersion experiences. This study examines the effects of a cultural immersion experience within a reservation in the United States for mental health graduate counseling students at a university in Wisconsin. The findings of this study emphasize the need to incorporate experiential learning, such as, cultural immersion experiences into education programs for …show more content…
Some specific strategies for increasing competency and sensitivity that will be discussed are international and domestic
Despite this, there is a gap in research about how to develop these essential skills. Self-reports of counseling trainees demonstrate feelings of under preparedness to engage in effective counseling with diverse populations and minorities upon the conclusion of academic programs (Kim & Lyons, 2003; Lee, 2013). This occurs even though multicultural counseling is a required course in many counselor graduate training programs (Sue & Sue, 2012).
Although we can simulate the real world in the classroom, authentic experiential learning constructs an opportunity that equips students for professional settings and careers. Additionally, it is important to expand on multiculturalism beyond one class. Even though there are studies that examine cultural immersion and offer support for its use as an intervention to increase cultural competency and sensitivity, further research is still warranted. Limited data exists, in specific regards, to counselors in training and domestic immersion experiences. This study examines the effects of a cultural immersion experience within a reservation in the United States for mental health graduate counseling students at a university in Wisconsin. The findings of this study emphasize the need to incorporate experiential learning, such as, cultural immersion experiences into education programs for …show more content…
Some specific strategies for increasing competency and sensitivity that will be discussed are international and domestic