Theories of Counseling:
Multicultural Counseling
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Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
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All helping methods exist within a cultural context.
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MCT recognizes the differences among and within clients.
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Looks at how family and cultural factors affect one’s worldview.
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MCT came from the recognition that many theories were empirically
validated on white middle-class males and therefore may not work as well
with people who are from other diverse groups.
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Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
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Therapists strive to liberate clients from personal, social and economic
oppression.
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Clients are liberated from self-blame and shown how their problems often
exist in a social context.
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Independence is basic to philosophy and action in MCT.
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Multicultural Counseling
Approaches to Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
The Universal Approach:
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Culture is define in a broad, inclusive and universal way.
Teaches about the danger of stereotyping.
Emphasizes the importance of language and loyalty to one’s own cultural
group.
Provides information about acculturation and oppression.
Discusses the importance of gender roles.
Facilitates identity development.
Builds self-esteem and awareness.
Facilitates understanding of worldview.
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Multicultural Counseling
Approaches to Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
The Focused Culture-Specific Approach:
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The counselor examines his or her own racial beliefs and attitudes.
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Discusses racially relevant topics and is willing to work on issues of
oppression.
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The counselor views clients on two levels: Individual and as members of a
group.
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Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT) as Metatheory
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MCT recognizes culture as an internalized, subjective perspective formed
against a backdrop of contrasting cultural backgrounds.
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Points out the importance in seeing the individual in context.
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It is concerned with cultural intentionality.
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Traditional theories are modified in ways that show respect for human
diversity.
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Multicultural Counseling
Nwachuku,s Theory for Generating Theory and Practice for other
Cultures Besides Your Own.
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Examine the culture in question: What are the important personal and
interpersonal aspects of this culture? Utilize field research, interviews and
anthropological readings.
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Identify concrete skills and strategies that can be used in helping.
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Test the new helping theory and its skills.
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This framework can be applied to a variety of cultural contexts.
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Multicultural Counseling
The Microskill of Focusing and MCT
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An individually balanced focus among individual, family and cultural
expectations is needed when counseling clients from various cultures.
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A significant part of any session needs to address the issues of significant
others, and cultural, environmental and contextual issues.
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Self-in relation to, connectedness, relationship and interdependence all
need to be considered.
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Multicultural Counseling
Introspective Developmental Counseling
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Naikan Therapy: Is aimed at assisting clients in finding meaning in their
lives and in repairing damaged relationships. It moves the client from
self-centeredness to awareness of interpersonal relationships.
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Introspective Developmental Counseling and Life Review: Tamase’s work
combines Eastern and Western frameworks. Erikson’s has received
criticism because it is grounded on a Northern European, U.S. white male
model.
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Multicultural Counseling
The Integrative Life Pattern Model
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This is a decisional counseling model that raises a person’s awareness of
multicultural issues.
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A lifelong pattern of identifying our primary needs, roles and goals and
integrating these within ourselves, our work and our family.
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Clients make decisions about their total development: Physical,
intellectual, social/emotional, vocational, sexual etc.
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Four major life roles: Loving, learning, labor and leisure.
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Multicultural Counseling
Cultural Identity Development Theory
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This is a cognitive, emotional and behavioral progression through stages
of awareness and involves different attitudes towards oneself at the
different stages.
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Generally the stages are:
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Awareness of self as a cultural being.
Encounter with cultural issues.
Naming of these cultural issues.
Reflection on the meaning of self as a cultural being.
Internalization about self-in-system.
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Multicultural Counseling
Constructing Culturally Appropriate Techniques and Strategies
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Implies a nonhierarchical relationship between counselor and client.
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Counselors modify their techniques and strategies to fit the client rather
than making the client fit the therapy.
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Takes into consideration that what may be appropriate for one client in
one cultural context may be inappropriate for another client in another
cultural context.
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Multicultural Counseling
Feminist Therapy as an Example
Feminist therapy utilizes:
Egalitarian relationships
Pluralism
An external emphasis
Use of community resources
Active, participatory counseling
style
Information giving
Personal validation
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Adds the concept of “power” missing in other theories.
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Works within a community context.
Multicultural Counseling
MCT Practice and Multiple Helping Roles
Network Therapy:
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Integrates community relationships and community into family therapy.
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Can include the nuclear family, extended family, important neighbors, and
key figures from the community (priest, teacher, the police etc.)
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One focus is to help the client build meaningful community and
interpersonal relationships to foster positive mental well-being.
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Multicultural Counseling
Points to Remember with Network Therapy
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Don’t expect to do it all yourself. Network therapy utilizes a treatment team.
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Use multiple theoretical approaches. Different theories may be beneficial at
different times with the same client.
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Consider the value of network treatment for all clients. People do not live in
vacuums and their issues or problems affect others around them.
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Multicultural Counseling
Family Therapy and Multicultural Issues
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The multicultural treatment of choice is often family therapy.
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Family is defined culturally and the roles, relationships and rules can be
different among and between cultures.
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Cultural expectations play a role in every family and group experience.
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A significant component of our self-concept is derived from our ethnic
heritage.
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Ethnic heritage also can shape our attitudes and beliefs.
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Multicultural Counseling
Traditional Healing
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Usually based on the epistemology and belief system of the culture.
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Counselors may sometimes need to work with traditional healers (e.g. a
medicine man) in order to best serve the client.
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Traditional healers have always included family and the larger community
in treatment. As Western theories begin to do so also, these two
approaches are becoming closer.
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It is important not to adopt traditional practices without first consulting
with the host culture to show the proper respect for their traditions.
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Multicultural Counseling
Liberation of Consciousness: Self-in-Relation
Freire’s Five Levels of Consciousness:
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Naïve consciousness: Blame for oneself for one’s condition.
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Identification with the oppressor: The oppressed find within the oppressor
their model of “personhood.”
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Anger: As one discovers one’s level of oppression, one becomes angry.
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Reflection on the self as a cultural being: This leads to action.
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Sees self-in-system: Personal identity is made by the self in relation to…
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Multicultural Counseling
Multicultural Respect
Religion/Spirituality
Sexuality Identity
Ethnic/Racial Identity
Trauma
Language
Location of Residence
Economic Class
Psychological Maturity
Chronological Challenges
Family History
Unique Psychical Characteristics
Identify your own level of cultural identity in relationship to each of the
above concepts.
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Multicultural Counseling
The Foundational Concepts of Empathy and Multicultural
Competence
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Acceptance is the foundation of empathy.
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The feelings you experience within yourself are the key to your own
degree of acceptance toward others.
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Roger’s core conditions form the backbone for empathic relationships.
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Counselors need to be aware of their own cultural values and beliefs.
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Counselors need to be aware of their client’s worldview.
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Counselors need to use culturally appropriate intervention strategies.
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Multicultural Counseling
Relating Educational Method to Counseling Theory and Practice
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Inviting a narrative.
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Reexperiencing the sensory dimensions of cultural identity issues.
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Making the narrative concrete and specific.
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Moving to a reflective consciousness.
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Seeing self-in-relation or self-in-system.
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Multicultural Counseling
Limitations of Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
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The counselor needs to be highly competent in traditional theory.
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The counselor needs to have a in-depth understanding of MCT
metatheory.
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The counselor needs to develop a knowledge of many different cultures.
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There is a small research base on MCT
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It challenges traditional therapies.
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It can be difficult for practicing counselors to incorporate it.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Multicultural Counseling
Strengths of Multicultural Counseling and Theory (MCT)
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It is a theoretical orientation in and of itself.
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It provides a framework to address the needs of the culturally different
and provides an alternative to theories empirically validated on white,
middle-class males.
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Numerous interventions can be applied through this approach.
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It is flexible and considers the needs of the individual in relationship to the
community.
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Resources
Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling
and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn &
Bacon.
James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and
psychotherapy, 5th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach.
Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”