Multicultural societies comprise individuals drawn from various religious, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, and economic backgrounds. Similarly, individuals differ in their educational attainment, values, worldview, and attitudes. These differences mean that counselors need to develop high levels of cultural competence and self-awareness to address clients' needs. Essentially counselors need to consider their identity regarding race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and religious views. This consideration is essential since it helps them establish how these differences could hamper or improve the counseling process.
Consideration of Counsellor's Identity
Counsellor's characteristics, including gender, educational attainment, marital status, age, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation, may hamper or improve clients' outcomes. Highly educated counsellors, for instance, have the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to design practical and effective therapeutic approaches. On the other hand, the counsellors' religious beliefs may hamper the counseling process if they become the basis of the therapy sessions with individuals who ascribe to different religions. Similarly, the counselors' gender is an essential factor, considering that it may affect how one relates to clients. According to Kastrani et al. (2017), clients prefer female counselors since they are more optimistic than their male counterparts. Essentially clients view female counselors as a more significant part of their interpersonal relationships, meaning they are more likely to confide in them.
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The counselor's race may hamper the counseling process, especially when dealing with clients from minority groups. There is a possibility that clients will refuse to adhere to recommendations by thinking that the counselor is using their race privilege to impose upon them. Similarly, the counselor's affiliation with a particular religion may hamper the counseling process, especially if they frame their arguments to align with their religious teachings when dealing with clients from other religions. However, aligning with spiritual teachings may be practical if the clients share the same beliefs, faith, and worldviews. On the other hand, the counselor's educational attainment would improve the counseling process considering that they are conversant with the field requirements. On the other hand, their sexual orientation may impede their practice when their clients are different, for instance, gay. The counselor may not understand the mechanics of gay relationships since they may be in a typical marriage/relationship.
Considerations when Working with Clients with Different Characteristics
The counselor's characteristics may either hamper or improve client outcomes depending on the level of internalization. Thus, the counselor has a responsibility to adjust their identity so that they are in a position to accommodate diverse clients. The counselor's gender would go a long way in their bid to accommodate both male and female clients by assuming a parental figure. The counselor would understand the clients' internal and external conflicts in a non-judgmental and understanding manner in this role. Her age, educational attainment, clinical experience, and marital status are other crucial personal factors that would improve her interaction with inexperienced clients. For instance, I would use my academic and clinical practice to help clients understand the dynamics of interpersonal relationships.
Similarly, the counselor would rely on their marital experience to help clients navigate complicated relationships. The counselor needs to be mindful of their race when dealing with clients from other ethnicities to ensure that it does not impede the process. In such instances, the counselor would avoid racial slurs to insinuate their race is responsible for the current situation. The same case would apply to religious affiliations in that the counselor would base her arguments on existing psychological frameworks as opposed to their religious worldview. On the other hand, the counselor needs to be less judgmental when dealing with minor groups such as the LGBT community and instead be open to their views to find a middle ground (Farmer, 2017). Overall, the counselor should gauge their clients to determine the differences that they present and, from here, design a practical approach that is culturally responsive and respectful.
Strategies for handling Pre-existing Biases, Prejudices, and Value Judgments toward Certain Clients
The counselor understands that there are pre-existing biases, value judgments, and prejudices towards individuals who ascribe to different cultural identities. This knowledge means that they must adopt strategies to ensure that these biases and prejudices do not impede clients' well-being. The most practical approach is to accept that every client is unique instead of viewing him or her as belonging to a specific group. For instance, if the counselor is dealing with an African American teenager, they need to think of the client as any other adolescent coping with developmental issues. Conversely, the counselor should not think of the client as a product of their society that decries high inequality levels. Similarly, the counselor should not let their beliefs about what an ideal family is when dealing with gay couples. In contrast, they should be open to the idea that other forms of relationships do not align with universal doctrines.
The other practical strategy that would increase the likelihood for better outcomes is for the counselor to improve their cultural competence. According to Gopalkrishnan (2019), cultural competence is a crucial skill in the counseling profession as it allows therapists to understand how their background affects them. Cultural competence ensures that the counselor gains a broader perspective by allowing the client more leeway in the counseling process. Essentially, a culturally competent counselor will design acceptable and practical solutions with the potential to improve outcomes. For instance, when dealing with a non-Christian, the counselor would offer solutions that align with the clients' religious beliefs. Adopting a client's viewpoint in counseling goes a long way in legitimizing the process and gaining his or her trust and cooperation.
References
Farmer, L. B. (2017). An examination of counselors' religiosity, spirituality, and lesbian-gay-, and bisexual affirmative counselor competence. The Professional Counselor, 7 (2), 114–128. doi:10.15241/lbf.7.2.114
Gopalkrishnan, N. (2019). Cultural competence and beyond: Working across cultures in culturally dynamic partnerships. The International Journal of Community and Social Development, 1 (1), 28–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/2516602619826712
Kastrani, K., Kouimtzisa, V., & Athanasiades, C. (2017). Women as counseling and psychotherapy clients: researching the therapeutic relationship. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology , 6 (1), 23-39. doi:10.5964/ejcop.v6i1.130
