Counseling Minority Groups, Because of Different Cultural

Counseling

Minority groups, because of different cultural value systems, often do not seek out psychological counseling in the United States. Counselors are perceived as either lacking in authority or representing a dominant culture that cannot possibly understand the needs of the minority community. Therefore, many individuals fail to receive the proper health care services they require. For example, within the Asian community, reaching out for counseling is perceived as a sign of significant weakness and therefore the individual must be able to save face while at the same time receiving the necessary services. In becoming aware of the needs of the Asian community, a counselor can for instance cloak their services in way that preserves confidentiality, reduces implications of weakness, while at the same time recognizing the deeply-rooted Confucian values within the Asian community. Hierarchical structures imply that the counselor must assume an aura of authority in order to gain the trust and respect of the client. Similarly, within the African-American community, systematic disenfranchisement and persecution have led to suspicion toward white counselors. The ideal counterbalance for this situation is to train more African-American counselors. In areas in which African-American counselors are scarce, counselors of other ethnic groups should take the time to learn about the cultural nuances that underlie the African-American community, become aware of community services, spiritual support, and other services specific to the African-American client.

2. Much discussion and controversy surrounds the ingrained differences between men and women, concerning cognitive and communicative styles. Although research does not always concur in matters pertaining to gender differences, males and females generally have different priorities and areas of concern when they seek counseling services. Women tend to be more concerned about their relationship to others: their self healing is relevant only insofar as it improves their interpersonal relationships. While this is not always the case, women do need to be counseled with relationship issues in mind. Males in American culture deal with issues related to establishment of strong ego identity. While clients should be treated as individuals and not members of a specific gender group, certain counseling styles will be more appropriate for men vs. women and vice-versa. For instance, men might respond more to visual and nonverbal stimuli, whereas women might respond better to back-and-forth conversations. I would prefer to counsel each individual according to his or her needs, but acknowledge the fact that some people respond better to nonverbal or to verbal stimuli.

3. A client-initiated relationship demands a specific set of professional and interpersonal communication skills. During the interview process that is client-initiated, the counselor must appear focused and interested, keen to support the needs of the client. Eye contact is essential, even if the counselor knows immediately that he or she cannot serve the needs of the client. The client might hold certain expectations about the client-counselor relationship. The counselor must clarify the terms of the relationship at all costs, even if it means disappointing the client. Recommending another counselor might be in order. Primary behaviors that I would consider most helpful in this situation would be display of eye contact; behaviors that should be avoided include all that would take advantage of the client's needs, as through overcharging or denying optimal services.

4. The Battle for Initiative and the Battle for Structure can be won by the counselor not through antagonism but through an attitude of compassion. When the counselor must take the initiative in the relationship, he or she assumes a different role than when counseling a client who him- or herself took the initiative. It is therefore not so much a matter of "winning" the battle as it is providing the optimal services for the needs of the specific client. Similarly, the Battle for Structure can be "won" by the counselor by taking control of the session through verbal and non-verbal communication. If the client appears eager to change a relevant topic, the counselor must veer back to the matter-at-hand without insulting the client. A sense of humor and patience are of the utmost importance in such situations.

5. Many clients, especially those with addiction problems or issues related to codependency, contend with denial. The counselor must deal with denial compassionately but firmly, by alerting the client that his or her behavior might be inappropriate, by bringing in family members or loved ones in an intervention process, or by offering relevant reading materials. The counselor must avoid seeming judgmental or heavy-handed, for to do so will turn the client off to counseling entirely. Rather, the counselor should listen to the unspoken reasons behind the denial: the pain and suppressed emotions that translate into resistance to change.

6. Self-disclosure can build trust in the client-therapist relationship. However, self-disclosure must be done with care. To disclose too much information, inappropriate information, or information at inopportune moments can all be detrimental to the client's well-being. The counselor must take care to be aware of self-serving motivations when disclosing personal information. The counselor-client relationship is above all a professional one. The client seeks and deserves professional, not personal treatment. Self-disclosure can enhance the "real relationship" that can be cultivated ideally in the client-therapist relationship. On the other hand, self-disclosure can entail an overstepping of the boundaries of the client-therapist relationship.

7. The termination process should neither be overdrawn nor overly abrupt. Going through termination is necessary to ensure that the client has no loose ends to tie up, and to make sure that the goals of counseling have been fulfilled. During the termination process, the counselor can also reassess the original goals of the therapy and determine from a professional standpoint whether or not the client is actually ready to terminate. Therefore, the termination process benefits both client and counselor. To make the termination process more therapeutic, the counselor can use real-life examples to help ease the client away from counseling services, by offering reading materials, support groups, and other activities that can substitute for the client-counselor relationship. The counselor can also advise the client on how to feel more self-sufficient and more self-reliant in times of need. Especially in cases in which addiction is a problem, the client also needs to be willing to experience the uncomfortable emotions associated with feelings of abandonment. The termination process can help resolve such issues.