The authors examined the impact of multicultural training on the development of White racial identity and interracial comfort. Findings indicated that an integrative multicultural training program resulted in significant increases along 3 dimensions of White racial consciousness and in the levels of interracial comfort. This work extends related efforts to study White racial identity as an important parameter of multicultural training and counseling. In addition, psychometric data and factor structures are provided for the White Racial Consciousness Development Scale (Claney & Parker, 1989) and the Interracial Comfort Index (Claney & Parker, 1989).

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In the cross‐cultural counseling literature many writers have suggested that counselors and counselor trainees should acquire knowledge about ethnic minority populations. More concrete suggestions are needed, however, regarding specific structures through which such knowledge might be gained. In this article the authors describe a multifaceted approach to acquisition of cross‐cultural knowledge that is a culmination of experiences and activities the writers have used in a course titled Counseling Ethnic Minorities. This approach is based on the premise that knowledge and cultural sensitivity can be achieved through a combination of cognitive, affective, and behavioral procedures. The course includes assessment of cultural knowledge, reading ethnic literature, multicultural action planning, and small‐group presentations. Students taking this course have judged the multifaceted approach to be a valuable experience for acquiring cross‐cultural knowledge and for developing cross‐cultural sensitivity. Most participants viewed the course as an important beginning to a lifelong process of learning.

The place of multicultural counseling in counselor education programs should be studied for the continuous growth of the profession. A flexible approach affirming both the similarity and differences of people is important.

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