Multicultural Psychology
Anthony Stamatouras
University of Phoenix
May 3, 2010
Multicultural Psychology Multicultural psychology is something that is relevant in this day and age. Today, with a vast number of people of different minority attachments living together, the idea of multicultural psychology is a good thing. Multicultural psychology is a discipline that is closely related to cross-cultural psychology and in fact is difficult to make that distinction ( Weiner, Freedheim, Schinka, &Gallagher, 2003). Multicultural psychology focuses on individuals with ethnic or minority backgrounds and is important in the field of psychology today. What is multicultural psychology exactly? The psychology department of Wheaton
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What are the problems that their children face? Someone who is a product of a mixed marriage may struggle with his or her own racial or ethnic identity. The importance of such matters are all too often minimized by traditional psychology. Further, the society is more and more diverse than ever before. With people coming together from different nations, and different cultures, there is a need to address different patterns of behavior and attitudes that exist amongst these groups. Again, the danger of stereotyping is certainly there, but ignoring differences is to ignore very pertinent information. Multicultural psychology can help in many areas of society, inclusive of counseling, but also in a business environment. Because of the unique nature of multicultural psychology, it should exist as a subspecialty of psychology. Multicultural psychology enhances the positives of all cultures and the importance of diversity, it accepts the uniqueness of others based on race, religion, sex, and age. Single parenting needs to be included as well under the umbrella of multicultural psychology. Even if many single parents take all the appropriate actions for a total well being, some cannot perform in high levels or maintain all their responsibilities. To minimize incidents of child problems like school dropouts, early pregnancy and juvenile behavior, a single parent must learn to communicate well with the children. Knowing and
In this paper we will be using the “Course Case Study” to describe the ethical issues to cultural competence, we will look at the influence of personal values related to the diversity issues, how they come to exist in the handling the situation (Argosy University, 2014). Using the ACA and APA ethical codes, we find the recommendations that would arise from these. At the end, we will apply specific ethical principles that appear in this study and in the counselors own counseling sessions with clients. Using the ethical codes, it will help for counselors to look at the case study and develop their own reasoning with pointing out the codes that apply with in a counseling protocol.
The article helped me to understand that multicultural counseling plays a major part in the understanding of the client. Understanding my own biases regarding multiculturalism based upon my own racial group and identity will fundamentally impact my counseling approach. My Way of Being with the client in the counseling session will be directly affect by my ability to understand his or her cultural differences.
Zunker informs us that Sue, Ivey and Pederson recognized that a theory for multicultural counseling was necessary; the premise of this theory is that learning occurs within a cultural context, that cultural identity changes and that culture is both inclusive and broad (Sue, Ivey & Pederson 1996; Zunker, 2006).The sociopolitical
Many children in today’s society have grown to become successful and mentally stable whether they had two parents, or one parent raise them. With everything in life it is never about quantity, but quality. This could apply to single parenting as well. As long as a parent create a stable and nurturing home their child will grow up to be a mature, hard working, independent, and loving adult. Family structure should not be the main focus when it comes to raising children, the focus should be on the values and life lessons that are taught to the child as they mature in life. Family structure in the last decade have change drastically. Children are being raised by same sex parents, grandparents, extended family, a single father, or a single
During my time enrolled in Psy 3325: Stereotypes, Prejudice Discrimination, taught by Dr. Tay Hack, we explored several topics concerning social differences. Using the textbook ‘ Understanding the Psychology of Diversity’ second Edition, I gained a deeper understanding of how the mind groups individuals together both consciously and unconsciously thus influencing the way we treat a person. In this course we covered racism, classism, homosexism, weightism, ageism, and the stigmas that come with these titles.
Understanding of the different cultural and racial population is important for counselors to recognize and consider in counseling. Due to the various approaches that should be taken when dealing with different cultures. Our textbook states “Counseling without attention or respect to the critical differences of diversity will likely not be successful.” (Clinton & Ohlschlager pg. 617) It is like you must put their shoes on, within the context of culture for the counselor to be effective. For example, when dealing with Asian clients they are very likely to have intense familial relationships. This contrasts with modern day United States American culture; our culture is centered on the self, not the us.
This paper discusses the dynamic issues involving the diversity of multicultural families in regards to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic, gender and sexual orientation. This paper will also highlight same or different minority or cultural backgrounds, identity and biases involving multicultural families. How multicultural families incorporate their beliefs, cultures and values into a family unit as well as the transformation of acculturation. Challenges involving racial identity, ethnicity; where do people with different cultures fit in and make it work; the population of multicultural families has risen and continue to do so. Socioeconomic status in multicultural families
Below, I will discuss the results of a multicultural self-assessment that I took. I will describe a time in which I felt “other”. I will then proceed to explain my personal feelings regarding each. I will discuss a course of action I plan to take as a result of the multicultural assessment. I will develop a counseling identity statement. Finally, I will explain why multicultural awareness and cultural competency are important in the field of counseling.
Specific thesis: The blended families and multicultural families become increasingly familiar. Understanding the basics of these families, is, therefore, critical for the family embraces its strengths in working through their differences. According to the research carried out by Michele Martin on the experience of the remarried couples in the blended families, differing loyalties cause various challenges for both biological and step-parents. Just like blended families, the shadow side of multicultural families can loom heavily in the relationships leading to various challenges. Chang and Chin-Chun (page 24, 2014) agrees that it is caused, primarily, by differences in culture and the differences in the cultures makes the parents face difficulties in raising children.
Through many years, children growing up in single family homes has been discovered as problems. “At first glance, defending single mothers and their children. Raised by a strong and resourceful single mother, I turned out OK” (Wilcox). Being raised up with one parent seems to be stressful and impossible, but for decades its become possible to happen. In the society today, there are children growing up overcoming emotional stages and achieving their goals whether if they have both parents to show them difficult paths in their life that they will overcome as a growing human being. The problems that occurs within raising a child in a single family home compared to a married home can be different or the same depending on the disciplinary actions. There are many questions asked, does a child need both parent figures to be raised? Does a son need a father figure, does a daughter need a mother figure? Among all the questions asked, is there a person taking care the main responsible with much undertaking, on the single parenting topic it has become an interesting argument. People need to be more informed with raising a child. Raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family, it is more to how a parent is discipline and having a proper process of teaching their child with learning how to be mature and respectful. Children of a single home can be progressive with the same emotional, social able, and interactive behavioral skills that is raised with both parents.
After reading the many articles on the notion of diagnosis and counseling with multicultural/ethnic patients, it has come to my attention that this focus is solely based on stereotypical attitudes. Sure, it can be said that it is important for a therapist to have a background of the patient’s heritage and culture, but doesn’t this necessarily mean that the outlook of the therapist will be put in a box by doing so? I think multicultural competency is a ridiculous way to improve patient-therapist relationships because of several reasons. First off, generalities and race-centralisms only hinder, not improve, the inner workings of a therapy session. Second, there is no real way to test
Multicultural counseling are counselors who understand that the client with different cultural background from themselves will have different views and that could effect their treatment. Multicultural are aware of the different cultures and the differences in groups meaning not everyone in the same group thinks the same. MCTs advocates to enhance the traditional counseling role by teaching and consulting plans that relates to culture and roles in the healing process. They also are aware of the balance between individualism and collectivism when it comes to assessing, diagnosing and creating a treatment plan for the client (Sue & Sue, 2016).
In the beginning of the course I had very little knowledge about the theories in multicultural counseling. I knew that it was centrally focused around social justice and equality but I didn’t know there were theories that pertained to specific ethnic minorities. I also learned that there isn’t a one size fits all theory. What I learned was that each model needs to be unique to the client and very well rounded; it should include a specific goal(s), describe the process, “have both aspects of cognition and emotion, and include justice and equity as well.” (Jun 2010) I have learned that as a multicultural counselor you have to be very aware and mindful of your thoughts and actions. I learned that there is a lot that is integrated into multicultural counseling and it isn’t cut and dry. There are varieties of concepts, such as being aware of oppression, continuous self-reflection, awareness of impact that a multicultural counselor can have on an individual, etc. (Jun, 2010)
Upon hearing multicultural counseling, culturally diverse counseling, or counseling of diverse populations most people may think of groups that differ from the dominant culture in our society, such as, race, culture, ethnicity, etc. Many people do not think beyond these categories to consider a second tier of diversity, for instance, age, disability, sexual orientation, etc. What is the dominant culture? In most references the comparison is associated with the White Euro-American norms. The basic assumption that heterosexuality is the only normal path of all human beings creates a need for counseling trainees to consider the hidden minority group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues (GLBT).
There is no doubt that both children and parents from single-parent families would more or less with some emotional, personality and interpersonal problems. This reflective paper that not aim to go further to explore the above symptoms and related impacts in their life or society. Instead, I would like to go further and modify what single-parents should aware and point out some ideas that what the families, school and our society could do, for the purpose of