Cross Cultural Counseling

I have read some journals relates with the cross-cultural is all about. But I’m just tried to explain it in brief. 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.

                                                                        -shared by Naim-