Challenges in Counseling Immigrant Clients: Understanding Intercultural Barriers to Career Adjustment

Abstract

The current article discusses cross‐cultural barriers encountered by immigrant clients. Adjustment issues in the following areas are discussed: psychological effects of moving to a new culture, communication, and employment.

Adjustment issues affecting employment for immigrants from the former soviet union

“…The loss of all things familiar, inctuding friends, places, unique customs, social status, and familiar social interactions and behaviors, creates an especially traumatic experience (Halberstadt, 1991(Halberstadt, -1992Lee & Westwood, 1996;Westwood & Ishiyama, 1991;Winkelman, 1994). The experience of this type of loss can lead to severe psychological stress; feelings of depression; and symptoms such as suicide ideation, substance abuse, family conflicts, and even domestic violence (Drachman & Halberstadt, 1992;Halberstadt, 1991Halberstadt, -1992.…”

“…The individuals' degree of cultural dissonance between their native country and the one to which they immigrate strongly influences the ease with which they can acculturate (Drachman & Halberstadt, 1992; Westwood & Ishiyama, 1991). Emigrants froni the FSU often experience a monumental shift in their cultural perspective.…”

Educated Immigrant Women Workers Doing Well With Change: Helping and Hindering Factors

“…Research on immigrants' adjustment and acculturation (e.g., Kadkhoda, 2002;Westwood & Ishiyama, 1991) has primarily highlighted the barriers and challenges to adaptation, which include discrimination, culture shock, second language anxiety, and changes in family dynamics. Berry (1997) indicated that acculturation is the process of adaptation or adjustment when individuals who developed their sense of self in one culture enter into another culture.…”

Career Assessment in a Culturally Diverse Society

“…Several researchers and career counselors have proposed different approaches to counseling the &dquo;culturally different&dquo; (Cheatham, 1991; Colon, 1988;Lipinski, 1989;Locke & Parker, 1991;Mercurio, 1991; Rifenbary, 1991;Sawchuck, 1991;Westwood & Ishiyama, 1991 …”