Cross Cultural Counseling

Cross cultural counseling is when counselors take the personal dynamics of self and clients into consideration when facilitating the therapeutic alliance. Culturally competent counselors must consider the many differences when working with their clients. Below are some of the most prevalent:

Systemic Racism

Systemic racism may not be obvious, but it is very apparent when one looks at the statistics. For example, despite Caucasian people making up the majority of the American population, the majority of prisoners in the justice system are black, even though African Americans make up less than one-fifth of the population. Despite the justice system's claim to treat everyone equally, the reality is that those without financial means -- who are twice as likely to be a minority according to an Economist report -- are at a disadvantage in the justice system. That's just one example of systemic racism prevalent in the U.S. today; others include police profiling methods and selective student college admissions.

Ableism

Another issue in multicultural counseling that frequently arises is ableism. Ableism is discrimination against people with disabilities. Society has come a long way in its treatment of people with disabilities, whether their disability arises as a result of a genetic condition or from a physical injury. People with disabilities face discrimination socially, in the workplace, and in the public sphere.

Religious Differences

The U.S. has dozens of organized religions and sub religions. They all have different dogmas, religious texts, and beliefs. Many people raised adhering to a specific religion believe theirs is "correct," though it is often more nuanced than that. Multicultural counselors respect different religious beliefs and value systems, so long as they do not infringe on others' rights and freedoms.

Chen, J. (2016),The Role of Critical Theory in the Development of Multicultural Psychology and Counseling,Research Anthology on Rehabilitation Practices and Therapy168-190

What are some other differences that must be considered when working with clients?