Native American Identity Development and Counseling Preferences: A Study of Lumbee Undergraduates

Abstract

The author investigated the relationships among the racial identity development status levels (preencounter, dissonance, immersion/resistance, and internalization) of 121 Native American college students and their preferences for counselor role (audience giving, approval giving, advice giving, and relationship giving). Participants most preferred a relationship-giving counseling style followed by an advice-giving style. The Internalization variable significantly predicted preferences for the audience-giving, advice-giving, and relationship-giving counselor roles. Implications for college counselors are provided.

Preventing Substance Use Among Native American Early Adolescents

“…These changes may not be measurable until there has been a passage of time since first receiving new information. Findings that reveal that internalization and receptivity of information occurs greater if the information is delivered in accordance with Native American values have been demonstrated in other studies (Scholl, ). When cultural identity and values are addressed along with the information, then internalization for Native Americans usually occurs.…”

Community Partnership to Affect Substance Abuse among Native American Adolescents

“…These may not be measureable until some time has elapsed since first receiving new information. Other studies have demonstrated that internalization and receptivity of information occurs greater if the information is delivered in accordance with Native American values (28, 29). Internalization of information for Native Americans usually occurs when cultural identity is addressed along with the information (30, 28).…”

With All My Relations: Counseling American Indians and Alaska Natives Within a Familial Context

“…King’s commentary regarding the framework of culturally sensitive counseling for AIs/ANs is part of a general consensus repeated within the literature (Scholl, 2006). Olson (2003) found that while efforts have been made to increase counselor's education and awareness of these issues, learning to express cultural empathy remains an area for future growth for “dominant-culture counselors and therapist who may need to be reminded of the significance of family, community, traditional healing methods, history, relocation, oppression, and empowerment” (p. 109).…”

“…While varying forms of the levels of acculturation model has been presented in the literature regarding AI/AN communities (Choney, Berryhill-Paapke, & Robbins, 1995; Garrett & Garrett, 1994; Garrett & Pichette, 2000; LaFromboise et al, 1990), the essential form has remained remarkably consistent over the past 20 years. An AI/AN client's level of acculturation (Garrett & Garrett, 1994; Garrett & Pichette, 2000; LaFromboise et al, 1990) and racial identity (Scholl, 2006) will often play an important role in their counseling experience. Because there is research regarding both acculturation and racial identity within native populations, it is important to understand the distinctions between the two.…”