Week 3 Discussion 2
Patterson describes several problems inherent in being a technique-driven counselor in a multicultural setting (1996). Though the paper is over 20 years old it does still hold some merit in the information he conveys. He describes the problem of self-fulfilling prophecy in which a stereotype or preconceived belief will actually cause a client to act in the stereotypical manner and no be receptive to conventional therapy. A second problem he identifies is that just because a therapist knows a particular culture doesnt grant him a hall pass on the counseling. He states that knowledge of a culture alone cannot provide effective treatment; it must be combined into working theory and put into action. Third but definitely not last Patterson discusses the problems of altering a therapeutic environment to fit the presumed needs of a certain cultural group. Finding ways to work around a road block (when culture clashes with the counseling process) would be more conducive than changing the counseling model to presumed needs of cultural groups.
Patterson (1996) goes on to suggest that building a rapport is most important in counseling even multicultural. In this way a therapist utilizes warmth empathy and genuineness to build the rapport for a comfortable and trusting therapeutic environment. Building a rapport does not negate confirmed and documented successful therapy strategies but allows them to work. This approach allows the counselor to become humanized and able to work universally and does away with the technique-driven strategy which can cause adverse results or hinder the process completely. Again knowledge of the different cultures is recommended but basing a counseling session and technique on the presumed characteristics of a culture for a client can cause more harm than good.
References
Patterson C. H. (1996). Multicultural counseling: From diversity to universality.Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD 74(3) 227. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/219011790?accountid=39364
Respond
Week 3 Discussion 2 Multicultural Issues
The Patterson articles discuss five problems inherent in being atechniquedrivencounselor in a multicultural setting. The three out of the five that I will address will be the assumption regarding the characteristics of ethnic-minority groups to the self-fulfillmentprophecy. The meaning of this if you are taught that acertain minority are a certain way thenyouareacceptableto believe that in that minority but that same minority was brought up in the same environment s you were. Another one is the assumption that the counselors knowledge of the culture of his or her client will lead to more appropriate and effective therapy has not been borneout. Just because you may have an understanding of someone’s culture does not meanyouare an expert in solving problem. Itdoesn’t makethingseasier.There are a lot that goes into one’s culture. The lastone would be perhaps the greatest difficulty with accepting assumptions about the characteristics andsocalled needs ofclients from differing cultures is that they will lead to failure or lack of success in counseling.Theworst thingyou can do is to draw assumptions. Assumptions are almost always wrong. These are ideasthatpeople came upwith and they have no facts.
What Patterson meant when he suggests that thesolutionto these problems is found incounselorsbecoming humanized would be few counselors ever ask what they can do to changethemselves few want to know how they can become better humanbeingsin order to relate more effectually with other human beings who through birth are racially andethnicallydifferent. I guess to elaborate becoming open minded and not be so quick to judge. Iwillshow some type of empathy and respect for others beliefs and culture whether we understand it or not.
Reference
Patterson C. H. (1996). Multicultural counseling: From diversity to universality. Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD 74(3) 227. (ProQuest Document ID: 9257253).