Achieving Cultural Competency: Assessment of US-Based Counselor Educators Instructing Internationally

Abstract

This article presents the outcomes of a qualitative investigation addressing the global exchange of counselor education. Findings delineate key traits and behaviors applied by counselor educators and counseling psychologists in cross-cultural exchanges. Personal traits noted by educators as essential for international exchanges included flexibility, respect, openness to learning, and passion for the experiences provided by international travel. Factors that increased cultural competency were cited as communication skills, increased comprehension of the context, and understanding of the counseling profession within the culture.

A Multidimensional Exploration of the Impact of International Experiences on Counselors’ Cross-Cultural Awareness

“…This reflection process moves counselors toward enhancing their intracultural and intercultural awareness. It includes understanding one's own culture of origin and that of clients, including the historical events and sociopolitical influences that contribute to working effectively with culturally different groups (Collins and Pieterse 2007;Malott 2008;Sue et al 1992;Sue 1998).…”

“…Numerous authors have offered ideas regarding methods for counseling professionals to develop cross-cultural competence directly, in particular focusing on working with clients who are ethnically and racially different (Constantine 2002;Malott 2008;Sue and Sue 2008;Sue 1998). Other recommendations for developing cultural competence have included various forms of multicultural training.…”

“…Given the significance of cultural competence in the counseling profession, counselor education programs in various locations are increasingly seeking international opportunities and experiences to help accelerate the cross-cultural development of counselors. International experiences that are used as cross-cultural immersion activities have been identified as playing a significant role in enhancing counselors' cross-cultural knowledge and self-awareness (Jacob and Greggo 2001;Malott 2008). Professional counselors, counselors-in-training, counselor educators and counseling psychologists (hereafter referred to as counseling professionals) emerging from prolonged and usually time-limited international experiences have reported an enhancement of their process of identity development, a heightened understanding of multicultural and diversity issues within their native countries, and increased knowledge and appreciation of global cultures (Leung 2003).…”

Professional Counseling in South Africa: A Landscape Under Construction

“…Malott (2008) believed that not only the Westem versus non-Westem paradigm should be addressed, but also the challenge of cultural differences across Westem countries. He supported Levers's (1997) call for"psychoecological pluralism" (p. 271) to include indigenous practices in the counseling curriculum.…”

Career counselling in the 21st century: South African institutions of higher education at the crossroads

“…The development of an indigenous Africanoriented counselling practice is also advocated by Abdi (1975) because the 'Western notion of a talking cure is alien to many black people in South Africa' (Straker 1988, 6). Malott (2008) believes that not only the Western versus non-Western paradigm should be considered but also the challenge of cultural differences across Western countries. He supports Levers' (1997) call for 'psychological pluralism' to include indigenous practices in the counselling curriculum.…”