Essay Sample on Cultural Diversity in Counseling: Impact on Client-Counselor Relationships

Introduction

Individuals who seek counseling have different ethnic, religious, racial, and cultural backgrounds. Cultural diversity affects society and may affect how people speak, where they live, how they live, religion, and origin. Cultural diversity also affects family, and it relates to monogamous or same-sex marriages, polygamous, and single-parent families (Martin, 2020). Cultural differences may affect the counseling process, thus influence client and counselor relationships. For instance, different religious views between the client and the counselor may affect the way they view life. The client's and counselor's relationship is built on trust, and the counselor must offer a confidential and safe environment and offer respect, understanding, and empathy (Martin, 2020). Different cultural backgrounds may affect the relationship between a client and a counselor. Therefore, counselors must never impose their beliefs and values on their clients. Counselors should allow their clients to explore their beliefs and values to comprehend life challenges to make positive impacts (Martin, 2020).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Differences in Cultural Backgrounds

People's social status, race, ethnicity, and religion affect individuals' feelings and ideas and affect counseling and communication. If a counselor understands the belief system, ethnicity, and background of a client, the counseling and therapy will be effective (Gillespie, 2016). Therapy and counseling must respond to the client's cultural identity ranging from his/her practices, norms, attitudes, beliefs, specific values, and native language (Gillespie, 2016). When the client and the counselor have the same cultural background, counseling is more effective. However, a counselor can improve the effectiveness of counseling by developing skills and competence to make him/her a culturally competent therapist (Sengar, 2018). Therefore, the counselor respects and understands the diverse clients' world views.

Family History

I am a female African American and a Christian, and I live in New York with my brother, sister, and parents. My father is an African American, a Christian, and lived in Chicago. My mother was an American Indian, Hindu, and came from Colombia. After my parents married, they went to live in New York City and reared us to become Christians. Because of the African ancestry from my father's side, we are African Americans. My father was a half cast between an African American and a European. My paternal grandfather was a European from Italy, and he was a Roman Catholic. My paternal grandmother was an African American, Christian, and she came from Latin America. My maternal grandmother is a European American from Greece and a Christian. My paternal grandfather was an Asian Indian from East Asia and practiced Hinduism.

Effects of Cultural Upbringing on My Worldview

As a Christian, I base my worldview on biblical concepts. I respect the secular authority, but I distrust some parts, especially the current changes which have allowed Americans to support same-sex marriages and support bisexuals and transgender. The origin of the Christian worldview is from the creation of human beings and Jesus' role in the salvation of humankind. As an African American, my worldview focuses on transforming my society to shape their racial worldview towards people who have partial or full African ancestry.

Learning About Cultural Upbringing and Its Effects on my Effectiveness as a Multicultural Counselor

Learning about my cultural upbringing has changed my view of different cultures. I originate from different cultures since my ancestors have intermarried with mixed races. Most of my mixed races are the minority groups, and learning about each of their cultures has helped me appreciate the cultural diversity of all ethnic groups. My extended family members have also intermarried with people from different ethnic groups and religions. Multicultural counseling provides culturally diverse clients with effective interventions (Alliant International University, 2020). My learning of my cultural background has helped me learn on various worldviews, and this will help me consider my clients' aspects of worldviews.

Considering Cultural and Contextual Differences Be an Effective Multicultural Counselor

I will understand my clients’ cultural background and not use mine to judge him/her. I will adopt multicultural interaction to promote multicultural competence and reduce bias (Chun et al., 2020). I will be a competent multicultural counselor by applying counseling alliance and wisdom, multicultural competencies, and a proper counseling approach (Herdi et al., 2019). I will always use multicultural counseling techniques such as therapeutic approaches, communication, values, flexibility, and self-awareness to be an effective counselor (Alliant International University, 2020). I will consider and appreciate my clients' cultural backgrounds to feel more confident during the counseling sessions.

References

Alliant International University. (2020). Why Multicultural Counseling is Essential to the Success of Today’s Therapist. Alliant International University. https://www.alliant.edu/blog/why-multicultural-counseling-essential-success-todays-therapist

Chun, J., Connor, A., Alsaman, M., Urkmez, B., & Kosciulek, J. F. (2020). Capitalizing on diversity in counselor education: An application of the interaction for learning framework. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 48(3), 161-175. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmcd.12175

Gillespie, M. (2016, May 2). The Cost of Neglecting Culture in Therapy. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/home-base/201605/the-cost-neglecting-culture-in-therapy

Herdi, H., Kartadinata, S., & Taufiq, A. (2019). What Makes the Efficacy and Effectiveness of Multicultural Counseling?. JOMSIGN: Journal of Multicultural Studies in Guidance and Counseling, 3(1), 1-14. https://ejournal.upi.edu/index.php/JOMSIGN/article/view/19444

Martin, A. (2020, July 16). The Relationship Between the Counsellor and the Client. The counsellor’s guide. http://www.thecounsellorsguide.co.uk/relationship-between-counsellor-client.html

Sengar, K. S. (2018). Psychotherapy and Counselling in a Diverse World. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45(2), 1-3.