Multiculturalism and the School Counseling Curriculum

Abstract

This article provides a rationale for and description of the organizational efforts involved in infusing multiculturalism into the curriculum of a school counseling program. It includes a characterization of the overall program, faculty resources, curriculum organization, and student characteristics. It also includes a detailed case study of an actual counseling interaction between a school counselor and culturally different client and a description of how such activities can be used to increase cultural awareness in prepracticum students. Este articulo proporciona una exposición razonada y una descripción de los esfuerzos organizacionales que están implicados en la integración de multiculturalismo al programa de consejería educativa. Incluye una caracterización del programa en general, los recursos de la facultad, la organización del programa y las características de los estudiantes. También incluye un estudio detallado de un caso actual de la interación entre un consejero educativo y un cliente culturalmente diferente, y una descripción de cómo se pueden utilizar estas actividades para aumentar el conocimiento cultural de los estudiantes que se preparan para ejercer esta actividad.

Multicultural and Social Justice Training for Counselor Education Programs and Colleges of Education: Rewards and Challenges

“…Similar projections indicate that the adult population is changing as well, with increasing numbers of culturally different individuals constituting the general public (Sue, Arredondo, & McDavis, 1992;Zhou, 2003). Thus, it is critical that educational administrators, teachers, and counselors are trained to address the unique needs of this increasingly diverse majority population (Coleman, 1996;Hobson & Kanitz, 1996;House & Martin, 1998;Lewis & Hayes, 1991).…”

“…In the special issue, Lewis and Hayes (1991) stated that "multiculturalism is increasingly recognized as an important component of the counseling training program" (p. 119). These authors further noted that "as educators, we have a responsibility to lead students to a heightened awareness of the importance of being empathetic and skilled in the realm of cross-cultural counseling" (p. 124).…”

“…"Multiculturalism as a Fourth Force in Counseling" (Pedersen, 1991), a special issue of the Journal of Counseling & Development (Volume 70, Number 1), documented the need for colleges of education (COEs) and counselor education programs (CEPs) to embrace a multicultural perspective. In the special issue, Lewis and Hayes (1991) stated that "multiculturalism is increasingly recognized as an important component of the counseling training program" (p. 119). These authors further noted that "as educators, we have a responsibility to lead students to a heightened awareness of the importance of being empathetic and skilled in the realm of cross-cultural counseling" (p. 124).…”

Culture And Professional Education

“…) Most programs deliver cultural content primarily through one course (Ridley, Mendoza, & Kanitz, 1994); however, many consider this inadequate (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1992;Midgette & Meggert, 1991). Ideally, cultural information should be infused throughout the curriculum and supplemented with a course on cultural issues (Garcia, Wright, & Corey, 1991;Lewis & Hayes, 1991).…”

School guidance and counselling in the United States and Taiwan: Parallels and beyond

“…Multiculturalism is beginning to be recognized as an important component for the current training of school counsellors (Lewis and Hayes, 1991). Program accreditation standards such as those of CACREP and the National Council for the Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE) now require consideration of multicultural issues in the training of school counsellors.…”