Lesson One

Multicultural Competency

Objectives

Comprehension Level:

To identify the structure and purpose of the intersectionality model

To review the elemental components of multicultural competence

Analytical Level:

To differentiate appropriate interactional strategies from unprofessional, unproductive communications

Lesson One Multicultural Competency

Counselor bias can impact the client-counselor alliance and potentially harming clients. Studies show that students are graduating without understanding that any multicultural biases they may have may affect the client-counselor alliance and therefore the therapeutic outcomes for their clients. Furthermore, graduate students may not understand the influence that mass and social media may have on their biases. Therapy clients are not persisting with treatment, in many cases, because of counselor bias. While serving diverse communities, counselors balance their commitment to client welfare with their own personal values. Divergent yet related these differences may be the basis of attitudes that impact the conduct of counseling professionals. Such biased attitudes are the primary focus of the research study, which was based on a self-reflection framework consisting of personal construct theory, counselor education, and self-reflection that utilized collage and apperception as forms of creative arts expression.

When implementing multicultural social justice counselor competencies (MSJCC) into public service practices counselors commit to continuing the pursuit of transforming human rights. The original goal of the MSJCC was to mandate an operational framework of equity for every person of every ilk for every offering. The aim of MSJCC is to carry forth that mission while building a human rights movement toward a world free of injustice.

The MSJCC framework impacted the color-conscious multicultural mindfulness (CCMM) training initiative that was developed to reduce the unconscious and unintentional interactions that align with intergenerational oppressive, disruptive trauma. Counselor efficacy can be elevated to meet the individual and collective needs of the clients being served, thereby promoting justice within the counseling profession. Mindfulness may help enhance multicultural consciousness by:

(a) increasing self-awareness of automatic thoughts,

(b) improving the ability to see another perspective,

(d) fostering prosocial behavior aligned with one’s values (p.148)

Counselors who have made the effort toward being mindful are generally more authentic with their clients and exhibit more emotional intelligence without reacting in a judgmental manner. The development of the MSJCC continues to provide a framework for reflecting on emergent research and publication, published scholarship, and to develop approaches for methodological innovation in counseling. The Ratts et al., (2015) MSJCC is formatted into four quadrants of intersecting privilege:

• privileged client–privileged counselor,

• privileged client–marginalized counselor,

• marginalized client–privileged counselor,

• marginalized client–marginalized counselor (p.4)

These quadrants present counselor‐client interactions as they relate to privilege and oppression. This specification theoretically allows counselors to view the developing process of the counseling relationship.

The Structure of the Four Quadrants of MSJCC

Relational social justice merges cognitive and political theory and practice with social change paradigms with human relationships, both personal and organizational, as the central axis.

Client Counselor

Degree of Marginalization Degree of Marginalization

Degree Privilege Degree of Privilege

An intersectional therapeutic framework is also recommended specific to art therapist. Recently, art therapists have incorporated the acknowledgment of sociopolitical oppression as a contributor to mental distress, recognizing the necessity of therapeutic and professional discussions Shifting from clients’ personal circumstances to the structural and systemic oppressive imprint on clients’ lives requires reflection on a counselor’s own values and societal perspectives. Professional ethical change requires six particular components: creativity, autonomy, justice, non-maleficence, fidelity, and beneficence as stated in the American Art Therapy Preamble of 2013. This ecological approach to mental health takes a Gestalt perspective much like Bronfenbrenner’s (1993) ecological model of development, which includes political and economic influences in an individual’s macrosystem. A art therapy counselors have an ethical responsibility to confront sociopolitical issues, especially for clients suffering from creative maladjustment, and that they can maintain their professionalism while challenging clients to try to view themselves objectively. A critical objective of counselor training is the development of the capacity to self-reflect.

Lesson One Review Questions

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One - What are 3 reasons why counselors should become familiar with the intersectionality model?

a. To improve the client-counselor alliance

b. To improve therapeutic outcomes

c. To begin to address counselor bias while serving diverse communities

d. To increase billing efficiency

e. To recruit research subjects

Two - How can learning about the intersectionality model assist clients?

a. They will see both positive and negative influences of their cultural background.

b. They may find commonalities with their counselor

c. They may begin to conceptualize ways to reduce the influence of experiences related to their cultural environment

d. Create hostility toward political officials

e. Give them an excuse to engage in criminal activities

Three - How can counselors reinforce their own commitment to client welfare?

a. Engage in their own wellness activities

b. Encourage clients to seek and adopt suitable wellness activities

c. Read relative research papers

d. Assigning client projects

e. Review professional ethical standards

Four - Give an example of each listed superficial barrier that can negatively impact the client-counselor alliance

a. Value judgements

b. Biases

c. Prejudice

Five - Give an example of how each hindrance can interfere with positive therapeutic outcomes

a. Poor counselor attitude

b. Counselor’s emotional conflicts

c. Disingenuous, placating verbalization

Six - What does it mean to transform human rights within the context of mental health?

Seven - True or False - the color-conscious mindfulness (CCMM) training initiative addressed unconscious, unintentional, inter-generational, oppressive, disruptive trauma of racism.

Eight - Describe 2 ways that mindfulness may enhance multicultural consciousness.

Nine - What are the 2 factors that form the basis of the intersectionality model?

Ten - What should be the focus of counselor’s self-reflection and why?

Please submit answers via email.