Self-Based Practice Chapter Summary

The decision between the Therapist and Latino client is a remarkable example of the importance of being sensitize and culturally competent. The therapist appeared to have inadvertently added to the client’s stress which potentially negatively affect the worker-client relationship as well as the intervention process. My initial response to the dialog was that of confusion. Although I tried to empathize with the counselor’s method of getting the young lady to take responsibility for her actions. I totally disagreed with his lack of insensitivity to the client’s indirect message. The young lady was trying to convey her feelings about her experiences as a Latino woman. He did not take inconsideration that although humans often have similar stories.

In order to provide culturally appropriate care, an examination of one's personal views, beliefs, and prejudices must be examined. The first portion of this paper will examine my personal values, beliefs, biases, and prejudices. The remaining paper will analyze the African American culture relating to the Ginger and Davidhizar's Transcultural Assessment Model cited in Hood (2010). This model uses six key cultural elements that include communication, space, social organization, time, environment, and biological variations. This model provides a systematic approach for assessing culturally diverse clients. I will also discuss an aspect of care that I would

Due to a clinicians’ lack of understanding of Hispanic culture, feelings of alienation can result from the patient. Family and social structures are different in Hispanic culture, whereas “professional help may not be sought due to Hispanics considering substance abuse a family problem” (Reif, Horgan & Ritter, 2008). In Hispanic culture it is perceived that family issues remain in the family, thus outside help is frowned upon. When treating clients from this population, clinicians need to include the whole family in the treatment plan and to respect family

Mental health counseling was not the career path in which I envisioned myself embarking on. Becoming a mental health counselor has many challenges and benefits. Along my career path I have had the pleasure of getting to know a variety of positions within mental health. Finding the definition of a mental health counselor can be defined as having compassion, being inquisitive, and having the need to help the mentally ill. Mental health counselors must have in place the right tools in order to properly aid those who are seeking mental health counseling. Mental health counselors

The culturally skilled counselor attempting a cross-cultural approach would be cognizant of his/her own tendencies toward personal bias and stereotyping of Santana’s appearance and attitude, as well as the very likely possibility of his client being on the receiving end of ridicule and criticism from others negatively stereotyping him as lazy, uneducated, or a “drug runner” just because he is Latino. Effective management and control of personal biases pave the way for open dialogue and the establishment of a clinical trust or professional bond that ideally leads to the discovery of core issues within the client that can subsequently be addressed.

The need to provide mental health services to culturally diverse clients has increased over the past couple of years due to the increase in racial and ethnic diversity in the United Sates. Consequently, there is a need for mental health professionals to offer effective interventions that address social issues that accompany racial and ethnic diversity (Constantine, Hage, Kindaichi, & Bryant, 2007). Research shows that efforts are being made to implement social justice advocacy strategies and interventions into counseling practices. This growing movement calls for counselors to be agents and advocates for social justice, oppression, and discrimination (Ratts & Hutchins, 2009). Social justice counseling approaches focus on empowering the individual by actively confronting injustices and inequalities that affects clients in their systemic frameworks (Pedersen, Lonner, Draguns, Trimble, & Rio, 2015).

To effectively lessen the effects of lifelong racism and discrimination, Hays & Erford (2014) recommends a strength-based approach, with the counselor focusing on the individual and family capacities. Focusing on the client’s positive attributes and favorable cultural norms can encourage one to become more resilient (Vaterlaus, Skogrand, & Chaney, 2015). Furthermore, applying counseling skills such as unconditional positive regard, empathy, consistency, focusing on the client, and providing a supportive environment can all help the therapeutic relationship (Hays & Erford, 2014). Additionally, making the counselor/client relationship equal will also allow the client to feel more comfortable, may dispel the mistrust of counseling prominent in African American culture (Hays & Erford, 2014). Finally, acknowledging the racial differences with the client could encourage them to discuss the racism and discrimination they may have experienced (Hays & Erford, 2014).

Underutilization and early termination of mental health services for Latinos in the U.S continues to be a concern for current research and practice in social work. A synthesis of current research demonstrates that there are several factors impacting access and utilization of mental health services for Latinos. According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services (2001), although Latinos are at increased vulnerability for developing mental illness, they continue to be half as likely in comparison to whites to access mental health services. Low rates of utilization of mental health services among the Latino community can be associated to a variety of factors including socioeconomic factors, cultural variables, stigma, psychotherapeutic challenges, client-therapist interaction (Kouyoumdjian, Zamboanga, & Hansen, 2003). Mental health conditions can significantly impact and individual’s ability to function and achieve their highest potential, consideration of these factors is essential in order to address the needs of a vulnerable population, and support Latinos in accessing mental health services when needed. This learning brief will focus on exploring how client system factors specific to Latinos’ resources, culture and worldview are associated with the underutilization of services for Latinos and important implications for practitioners when providing treatment.

3. Differences in values and beliefs define a person's choice for mental and physical health care. “Because health care is a cultural construct, arising from beliefs about the nature of disease and the human body, cultural issues are actually central in the delivery of health services treatment and preventive interventions” (Office of Minority Health, 2005, p. 6). It is important to acknowledge that Esmeralda fits into two categories of minority because Esmeralda is a Latina. It is important to know that Hispanic women are less likely to make full use of many social services even when they are provided to them. Hispanics normally are family oriented and that means Esmeralda will probably want to involve her family in any treatment program she

(deal with depression)”,("Relations of depression, acculturation, and socioeconomic status in a Latino sample."). Essentially saying that when hispanics do not have the money to go see a therapist. That hispanics deal with this problem differently, or, not dealing with it at all. Why spend money one some to talk too when you could just work it off? Why pay someone to talk to when you could very well talk to your loved ones. There could also be the mindset that getting outside help is seen as being weak and that all one really needs is stronger family ties, getting help for depression is seen as a luxury. The money used to pay a therapist could be used to paying bills or feed the

Having a strong support system plays a role in the survival and success of this community. There is a lack of formal support for the Hispanic community, that is why they rely heavily on their informal support system. The formal support that is available is not culturally relevant to the Hispanic community. Barrio (2000) states, “When the objective is to design and provide services relevant to a particular culture, this process also appraises the fit between the service system and the unique ethnocultural qualities, needs, and expectations of the client system to be served” (p. 880). There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” formal support systems. We need to tailor to the specific community, in this case the Hispanic community, to meet their needs and expectations. Delgado and Humm-Delgado state that we as Human services workers must not diminish the importance of natural support systems, but we cannot use that as an excuse to say that they can support each other and do not need our support (p. 88). We must be client-centered and focus on what that particular individual needs, despite how strong their natural support is. Natural support systems are limited, they cannot provide essential medical assistance, stable income, and mental health services. We must utilize their support system to help us as Human services workers to better serve

This intervention was a personal intervention conducted on myself. I am a 39-year-old Caucasian married mother of two currently enrolled in the Advanced Standing Master Social Work Program at Florida International University.

Latino/as represent approximately 12.5% of the U.S. population, making them largest ethnic minority in the United States today. As the years progress, psychologists are aware that the increase of Mexican American population will occur because of immigration and higher birth rates. Therefore, the needs for mental health services are evident simply because of the psychological stressors they face due to poverty, immigration, and acculturation. Although the need for metal health services is noticeable, researches suggest they underuse these services because of 3 in particular hypotheses. First, Mexican Americans have low incidences of mental health services. Second, there is a lack of institutional barriers such as: lack of Spanish speaking counselors, finances, and lack of ethnically similar counselors. Lastly, culturally barrier theory, otherwise known as acculturation and Mexican values.

Rincon Family Services has been created by Latinos suffering from substance use and mental health issues. In the 70s, RFS’s clientele was Hispanic predominantly; however, through the years the clinic has started working with an African-American population and also with a Caucasian population. Working in this facility and also doing my internship here has allowed me value of the richness of working in a place where the diversity allow us to learn from one another, facilitating mutual collaboration and cooperation. As a Latin South American woman, my cultural background is a little bit different from the other diverse ethnic groups that work here, at Rincon Family Services, groups such as the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. On the other hand, my cultural background is totally

It is important to be aware of one’s limitations, weaknesses and strengths in the delivery of counseling services. Taking into account the cultural values of the client, the support systems and the client’s view of the key parts of his or her makeup (the history of the client) are culture specific (because someone is of the same race does not mean that values will be the same) and does not discount the individual. Sue et al reminds us that multicultural counseling competency looks beyond racial and ethnic minorities and also includes disabilities, sexual orientation, age, and other special populations (Sue, et al, 1992).