Counselor Characteristics, Attitudes, and Beliefs
Cultural competence is imperative in fostering success in counseling, especially in diverse cultures. Understanding the differences between one’s attitudes, values, beliefs, and perception and that of the clients is equally important (Sue & Sue, 2008). The counselor is able to demonstrate unconditional love, instead of judging clients for the cultural differences. The cultural competence refers to a set of values, attitudes, policies, and behaviors in an institution or a counselor that enhance effectiveness in cross-cultural counseling. As a counselor, the culture awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and skills demonstrates that one understands the cultural differences observed in the client. Cultural awareness shows that the counselor is conscious about his/her actions, attitudes, and perceptions on the clients (Sue & Sue, 2008). For instance, a counselor should not be judgmental when dealing with a client who is a gay or a lesbian. Additionally, a counselor should not behave in a manner to suggest that he/she is reinforcing racial discrimination and prejudice. Already, LGBT communities face discrimination and even oppression in some communities. Therefore, a counselor ought to show unconditional love and positive regard for every client regardless of the cultural differences.
The counselor’s behavior on equality ought to be consistent with the attitudes and value. It is one thing to say that one respects diversity, and it is another to demonstrate that through action. The knowledge on cultural competence will determine the relationship and attitudes towards the client (Moule, 2012). A majority of the communities, such as the Latinos, African Americans, and the black have been through oppression and discrimination. Some of them have internalized the oppression and the negative perceptions about them. If the counselor fails to adhere to the principles of equality, fairness, and positive regard for all people, he/she will be enhancing the self-fulfilling prophecy.
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The multicultural counseling skills may also influence the relationship between the counselor and their clients. The verbal and nonverbal communications differ from one culture to another. For instance, some clients, especially from the collective cultures, may experience problems expressing themselves, particularly on sensitive matters. Also, people who have been through abuse and oppression may also face similar challenges. On nonverbal communication, the counselor ought to understand the meaning of certain symbols, signs, and expressions. For instance, it is common for most of the Native Americans and most communities from the collective cultures to avoid the eye contact. If the counselor believes that such nonverbal communication denotes dishonesty or untrustworthiness, then that may affect the outcome of counseling. Therefore, cultural competence plays a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness of the counseling process. If the counselor has the multicultural knowledge and skills, then the outcomes of counseling are more likely to be positive.
Influences of Internalized Oppression and Institutional Racism
Some communities, especially the Native Americans, Latinos, and African Americans have experience history of discrimination and oppression because of their race. The attitudes that one’s culture is superior to others will determine the actions, attitudes, and perceptions towards people considered to be out-group. In the United States, for instance, most of the Native Americans have been assimilated into the mainstream culture. Sometime the assimilation is done by force, and involves ‘demonizing’ the traditional cultures as backward and uncivilized. Oppression is an extreme form of discrimination. It involves the psychological and physical brutality. For instance, there were atrocities committed in Argentina and Chile, genocide in Rwanda, apartheid in South African, and Holocaust among the Jews in Germany.
The victims of racism and oppression are likely to internalize such injustices. The internalization means that one believes the myths and the misinformation about them to be true. People internalize oppression and other forms of injustices because they have been conditioned to believe that they are not good enough like other cultures. For instance, the Native Americans have been forced to abandon their way of life because it is backward. They have been forced to pursue formal education, work in the formal organization, and adopt the mainstream culture through assimilation. Because of oppression and discrimination, students from some cultures, such as the Latinos, African Americans, and Native Americas may fear vying for leadership positions in different organizations, even when they have the skills. They imagine themselves to be inferior to certain races, such as the whites; therefore do not think they can become effective as leaders. Women have been made to believe that they are not good in math and science subjects. They have internalized such misinformation, explaining why men have dominated the science careers.
As a counselor who provides services to clients from different cultures, it is vital to understand how the internalized oppression, racism, and discrimination can affect individuals and families. The history of oppression and racism is important to the counselor because it determine the approaches used in the counseling process (Takaki, 2000). The role of the counselor is to help the client to reconstruct their thinking and the false perception about themselves. The counselor has a responsibility to help clients realize that oppression and discriminations are forms of injustices. Also, as a counselor, one of the main goals would be to empower the clients and to motivate them to pursue their goal and believe in themselves. One of the effects of internal oppression is that it affects the self-efficacy and esteem of the victims. It may also affect how families, especially parents treat their children. For instance, parents may deny their children an opportunity to pursue their talents, insisting that education is the most important thing in their lives. The conflict between children and their parents is common in oppressed families, especially where parents think that they made wrong choices and that explains their low economic status. Parents control everything that their children do, including the courses they should pursue in college. Therefore, the counselor has a role of addressing such issues by helping such families realize the relationship between their actions and the history of oppression.
Effects of Client’s Characteristics and Concerns
Cultural awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and skills are important in multicultural environment. These factors play an imperative role in understanding and appreciating clients’ concerns and characteristics. The attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of the clients will have an effect on counseling outcomes, especially on advocacy strategies (Chamberlain, 2005). For instance, when dealing with a client who has refused has internalized the oppressions and other forms of injustices, it is very difficult to redress the challenges they face through advocacy. Unless the clients see and be able to define the problems and their sources, then it will be difficult to assist them. Even the goal setting will not produce the desired results. If the client continues to blame him/herself for what they face, they will be less motivated to adhere to the proposed intervention program. Therefore, as a counselor, helping the client understand the relationship between what they face and history of oppression is important in enhancing the effectiveness of counseling.
References
Chamberlain, S. (2005). Recognizing and responding to cultural differences in the education of culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Intervention in School & Clinic, 40(4), 195-211.
Moule, J. (2012). Cultural Competence: A primer for educators . Wadsworth/Cengage, Belmont, California.
Sue, D. & Sue, W. (2008). Counseling the Culturally Diverse : Theory and Practice, 5 th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Takaki, R. (2000). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America . Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
