Cross-Cultural Counseling
Cross-cultural counseling occurs whenever the cultural heritage of the counselor and the client differ.
Because culture impacts how we view the world, including values, beliefs, behaviors, customs, etc., cultural
differences must be attended to if counseling is to be effective. Counselors and other health care providers
require unusual life experiences and extensive special training if they are to practice with cultural competence
in one or more cultures that are different from their own. The development of cultural competence is a process
not an endpoint because culture is such a broad, complex, and challenging topic.
Counselors striving for culturally competent practice will work hard to understand their own worldview and
cultural heritage so that they do not impose their personal and cultural biases on their clients. They will work
hard to develop cultural knowledge of other societies, such as learning about common beliefs, food ways,
parenting practices, and other social behaviors. They will also develop cultural sensitivity and awareness,
recognizing that differences between cultures exist without applying judgments about those differences. They
will watch for prejudice and cultural bias in psychological theories and concepts, in research, in institutions, in
the community, and in their own lives and professional practice. They will seek collaboration and input from
members of the cultural groups they serve when developing new services and programs. They will strive to
see clients as individuals, not stereotyped representatives of a larger cultural group. Worldview varies not only
with cultural, racial, and national origin, but also with age, gender, acculturation, education, and many other
factors.
References
Adams, D. (Ed.) Health issues for women of color: A cultural diversity perspective. Thousand Oaks: SAGE
Publications 1995.
Betancourt, H. and Lopez, S. R. The study of culture, ethnicity, and race in American psychology. American
Psychologist 1993; 48(6), 629-37.
Dana, R. H. Multicultural Assessment Perspectives for Professional Psychology. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn &
Bacon 1993.
Davis, K. Exploring the intersection between cultural competency and managed behavioral health care policy:
Implications for state and county mental health agencies. Alexandria, VA: National Technical Assistance
Center for State Mental Health Planning. 1997.
Good Mojab, C. The cultural art of breastfeeding. Leaven. Vol. 36 No. 5, October-November 2000, pp. 87-91.
Good Mojab, C. From Barriers to Bridges: Culture and Breastfeeding. Western Kentucky Breastfeeding
Coalition 2005 Conference, "Raising Awareness: Current Issues in Lactation." Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.
August 26, 2005.
Hofstede, G. Culture's Consequence. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage 1980.
Kluckholn, F. R. and Strodtbeck, F. L. Variations in Value Orientations. Homewood, IL: Dorsey 1961.
Texas Department of Health, National Maternal and Child Health Resource Center on Cultural Competency.
Journey towards cultural competency: Lessons learned. Vienna, VA: Maternal and Children's Health Bureau
Clearinghouse 1997.
Triandis, H. Culture and Social Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill 1994.
Because culture impacts how we view the world, including values, beliefs, behaviors, customs, etc., cultural
differences must be attended to if counseling is to be effective. Counselors and other health care providers
require unusual life experiences and extensive special training if they are to practice with cultural competence
in one or more cultures that are different from their own. The development of cultural competence is a process
not an endpoint because culture is such a broad, complex, and challenging topic.
Counselors striving for culturally competent practice will work hard to understand their own worldview and
cultural heritage so that they do not impose their personal and cultural biases on their clients. They will work
hard to develop cultural knowledge of other societies, such as learning about common beliefs, food ways,
parenting practices, and other social behaviors. They will also develop cultural sensitivity and awareness,
recognizing that differences between cultures exist without applying judgments about those differences. They
will watch for prejudice and cultural bias in psychological theories and concepts, in research, in institutions, in
the community, and in their own lives and professional practice. They will seek collaboration and input from
members of the cultural groups they serve when developing new services and programs. They will strive to
see clients as individuals, not stereotyped representatives of a larger cultural group. Worldview varies not only
with cultural, racial, and national origin, but also with age, gender, acculturation, education, and many other
factors.
References
Adams, D. (Ed.) Health issues for women of color: A cultural diversity perspective. Thousand Oaks: SAGE
Publications 1995.
Betancourt, H. and Lopez, S. R. The study of culture, ethnicity, and race in American psychology. American
Psychologist 1993; 48(6), 629-37.
Dana, R. H. Multicultural Assessment Perspectives for Professional Psychology. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn &
Bacon 1993.
Davis, K. Exploring the intersection between cultural competency and managed behavioral health care policy:
Implications for state and county mental health agencies. Alexandria, VA: National Technical Assistance
Center for State Mental Health Planning. 1997.
Good Mojab, C. The cultural art of breastfeeding. Leaven. Vol. 36 No. 5, October-November 2000, pp. 87-91.
Good Mojab, C. From Barriers to Bridges: Culture and Breastfeeding. Western Kentucky Breastfeeding
Coalition 2005 Conference, "Raising Awareness: Current Issues in Lactation." Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.
August 26, 2005.
Hofstede, G. Culture's Consequence. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage 1980.
Kluckholn, F. R. and Strodtbeck, F. L. Variations in Value Orientations. Homewood, IL: Dorsey 1961.
Texas Department of Health, National Maternal and Child Health Resource Center on Cultural Competency.
Journey towards cultural competency: Lessons learned. Vienna, VA: Maternal and Children's Health Bureau
Clearinghouse 1997.
Triandis, H. Culture and Social Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill 1994.
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| Copyright 2005-2006 Cynthia Good Mojab All rights reserved |
| LifeCircle Counseling and Consulting, LLC |
