the articles students have found to undertake the Part 1 assignment reflect a variety of multicultural issues. I also teach Counseling Theory & Practice for NVU Online. I am including the quoted information below, from the textbook I use in Counseling Theory & Practice, to emphasize the essential nature of developing a multicultural orientation. Every client we encounter represents an individual with culturally unique problems and challenges. Some client groups in particular have experienced more extensively from discrimination and prejudice. As a professional working in the field of counseling, your responsibilities will include assisting people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Kottler & Shepard (2015) summarize, "The complexity of the problems and special considerations for each group is evidenced by the amount of literature detailing the characteristics and methods of treatment. The challenges facing you as a counselor include learning about each of the diverse populations, developing the specialized skills needed for counseling diverse individuals and families, and understanding your own biases and how they affect your thoughts and behavior with clients" (p. 407).

Hutchinson (2022) offers:

There is another way of looking at your role in expanding multicultural awareness. This has been referred to as "relational humility theory," and it is all about your increased ability to be fluid and present in relationships with all kinds of people. in this line of thinking, your challenge is to build a degree of cultural comfort with all kinds of differences, to approach your clients with a sense of cultural humility, and to seize upon little cultural that present themselves for discussion of those differences in a way that builds an alliance between you and your clients. (p. 136)

Further, reflect upon the premise, "This is a journey, not a destination, and your work is to continually examine your own knowledge base and attitudes" (Davis et al., 2017, as cited in Hutchinson, 2022, p. 136).

• How can the process described above allow for us, as counselors, to grow both personally and professionally?
• How can the process described above provide for a therapeutic alliance that fosters our clients' growth?
• Which attributes of the culturally sensitive counselor do you feel you already possess?
• What strategies can you suggest to continually develop your cultural sensitivity?

Kottler, J. A., & Shepard, D. S. (2015). Introduction to counseling: Voices from the field (8th ed.). Cengage Learning

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