Understanding Native‐American Values: Process and Content Concerns for Counselors

Abstract

Counselors have the responsibility to consider Native Americans' values from both content and process emphases when counseling clients from this group.

American Indians: Presenting concerns and considerations for family therapists

“…Inviting extended family members to come to the sessions and not restricting the location of the session to the office may be useful (Attneave, 1969). Family therapy seems to be the preferred modality for serving American Indians; moreover, individual approaches have been called inappropriate for this population (Herring, 1990;LaFromboise, Trimble, & Mohatt, 1990). A call is being made to marriage and family therapists to take heed and promote the rofession in the realm of multicultural family therapy.…”

“…American Indians perceive time as coordinated by nature and hence measure it in terms of the passing of days, lunar cycles, and seasons (Herring, 1990). American Indians typically do not adhere to tight schedules and may not be as conscious of making and keeping appointments as are other Westerners.…”

Counselling Aboriginal peoples: A thematic study of counselling experiences.

“…In order for counselling sessions to reoccur and be positive, counsellors need patience, understanding, acceptance, flexibility, and they must be comfortable with long pauses in conversations, lack o f eye contact, using the Native American family as a resource, and facilitating group work rather than individual work (Heinrich et al, 1990;Herring, 1990). Counsellors will also need to work with the Aboriginal client in order to gain their acceptance, trustworthiness, and respect, demonstrate patience, and bring humour into the sessions (Garrett & Garrett, 1994).…”

“…Aboriginal peoples face in current society include cultural conflict, language differences, poverty, educational deficiencies, high suicide rates, alcoholism, and drug involvement (Herring, 1990). In addition, they are also subjected to historical trauma, which includes assimilation, colonization, marginalization, and residential schools (Herring, 1990).…”

“…In addition, they are also subjected to historical trauma, which includes assimilation, colonization, marginalization, and residential schools (Herring, 1990).…”