A Course on Counseling Ethnic Minorities: A Model

Abstract

There is a need for content courses and practicum experiences in the area of counseling ethnic minorities in counselor education departments across the country. Generally, the only preparation that counselor trainees and others receive in this important area is provided through workshops and conferences, since few such formal courses exist today.

Effects of Cross‐Cultural Training on Helper Response

“…Strupp (1973) has observed that culturally conditioned attitudes may be evoked in helpers by the client's socioeconomic status, sex, cultural background, and color. Many contend that, as generally practiced, counseling and psychotherapy are oriented toward the White middle-class client (Atkison, Morten, & Sue, 1979) whose values, stan- dards, and expectations may not apply equally to non-White, poor, or "third world" groups (Goldstein, 1981;McDavis & Parker, 1977). The emphasis placed on intrapsychic causation and personal or family disorganization, often to the exclusion of societal and institutional dysfunction, is considered to be particularly detrimental to the poor and to racial minorities (Berman, 1979;Block, 1981;Bryson & Bardo, 1975).…”

“…Despite the dearth of research in cross-cultural counseling, a review of the literature reveals that a number of assumptions exist. For example, it is assumed that: (a) perceptions detrimental to cross-cultural counseling are learned and can be altered (McDavis & Parker, 1977;Truax & Carkhuff, 1969); (b) knowledge and understanding of the client's culture and perceptions are prerequisites for effective counseling (Smith et al, 1978); (c) the level of expressed counselor empathy is paramount, and it is influenced by the counselor's perception of the client's dissimilarity (Bryson & Bardo, 1975;Harrison, 1975); and (d) counselor anxiety may interfere with counselor effectiveness (Bowman & Giesen, 1982), particularly during cross-cultural encounters (Block, 198 1 ;Vontress, 1974).…”

“…During the last decade, the above assumptions have led to the development of cross-cultural training programs for counselors and other helpers throughout North America (McDavis & Parker, 1977;Mitchell, 197 1 ;Pedersen, 1978). Although preliminary reports concerning the success of cross-cultural training are promising, there is as yet little controlled and systematic documentation of its effectiveness.…”

The Marae-based Hui: Intensive induction to cross-cultural counselling, a New Zealand experiment

“…However, participants complain about a comparative overload of teaching input and a lack of opportunity to discuss, digest and reflect. This echoes the point by Gibbs (1981) and McDavis and Parker (1977) that a single experience like this is insufficient to have a lasting effect on professional development. Hui participants themselves stress the need to obtain more information about Maori adjustment, available community resources, and principles of cross-cultural counselling; they also want specific training in the cross-cultural application of various professional skills taught.…”

A Model of Comparative Studies in Counselor Education

“…There are exceptions, of course-a few isolated courses on intercultural counseling issues offered at some universities. But the scope of such courses is usually limited to selected ethnic minorities (e.g., McDavis & Parker, 1977).…”