Chapter Twelve: Multicultural and Non-Western Theories

Historical Context and Contributors  Many voices, many needs  Came into being as minority views asserted themselves

Theoretical Principles of Multicultural Theory and Therapy  Culture permeates our lives  Culture influences the ways we see each other and the world  A multicultural stance will foster greater understanding

Important Concepts  Acculturation  Melting Pot  Individualistic  Collectivistic

Theory of Psychopathology  Acknowledges the role of social forces  Difference and disorder Multi-determinate concepts

The Practice of Multicultural Therapy  Preparing yourself  Preparing your client  Assessment Issues and Procedures

Multicultural Competencies  Awareness and acceptance  Knowledge  Skills

Extended Case Example Case of Shonda Athlete American Indian Some Latina identity

Specific Therapy Techniques  Scientific mindedness  Dynamic sizing  Culture-specific expertise

Therapy Outcomes Research  Effects of multicultural training positive for therapy outcome with minorities  Serious concern about application of treatments not tested on diverse populations.

Non-Western Theories  Western ideas are permeating the world  Need for balance and diversity  Buddhist contributions  Spirituality reintroduced

Concluding Comments  Endorsing diversity is deceptively simple  Enacting multicultural values can be very challenging.

Student Review Assignments  Critical corner  Reviewing key terms  Review questions

Critical Corner  A true multicultural theory and therapy is impossible. Just as has been emphasized in this chapter, every individual is different—even individuals who come from the same cultural background and even individuals who come from the same family within the same culture. Therefore, although cultural awareness and sensitivity is a nice idea, really, every counseling situation is a counseling situation with a unique individual.

Critical Corner (continued)  Generally speaking, multicultural theory places the responsibility for psychopathology and human suffering on the culture, rather than the individual. Even within the context of therapy, most multicultural approaches emphasize how the therapist must become culturally sensitive to a wide range of different ways of thinking, being, and living. Doesn’t this emphasis seem out of proportion sometimes? In the end, isn’t the client responsible for his problems? Isn’t it the client’s responsibility to communicate his situation to the counselor—rather than it being the counselor’s responsibility to “speak the language of all cultures?”

Critical Corner (continued)  Respecting your clients cultural perspective is one thing, but what if that perspective is destructive, oppressive, or simply wrong. If an Afgani couple comes to see you and insist that the woman needs to keep her head covered and insist that their female children receive no formal education, do you just accept these cultural differences? Is it acceptable for parents to beat their children or for women’s genitalia to be mutilated all in the name of cultural diversity?

Critical Corner (continued)  Cultural relativism aside, there are some basic truths. If a client comes for therapy and reports symptoms of anxiety or depression an empirically validated treatment should be provided— regardless of the client’s culture. Yes, it may be helpful to explain the therapy to the client, but the fact remains that all clients should receive the most promising treatments available. When it comes to effective therapy, science is blind to racial and ethnic differences.

Critical Corner (continued)  Working with spiritual and soulful issues in therapy is not only impossible, it’s generally ill- advised. After all, the most tragic and horrendous acts in the history of the world were usually fueled by one of two factors: Religion or money. How can scientifically oriented therapists who are dedicated to the well-being of humans focus on intangible and potentially misleading and destructive intangible concepts such as soul and spirit. To do so is inherently unethical.

Review Key Terms  Fourth Force  Drapetomania  Dysaethesia  Ego-dystonic homosexuality  Culture  Multiculturalism

Key Terms (continued)  Transcultural  Multicultural counseling  Stereotype  Individualistic  Collectivist  Acculturation or Ethnocultural Orientation

Key Terms (continued)  Monoculturalism  Scientific mindedness  Dynamic sizing  Culture-specific expertise  Ethnic-match  Ethnic-specific services

Key Terms (continued)  Cognitive match  Buddhism  Four Noble Truths  Eightfold path  Mindfulness

Review Questions  Why is multicultural theory and therapy referred to as the “fourth force” in counseling and psychotherapy?  Discuss how the lack of consideration of divergent cultural perspectives might result in therapists assigning damaging diagnoses and labels to clients.

Review Questions (continued)  What does Christopher mean when he says that the culture precedes the individual? Are there any traditional theories of counseling and psychotherapy that include similar concepts?  Identify several ways a client with a collectivist orientation might affect you. Now, identify how a client with a strong individualistic orientation might affect you.  Summarize the three main multicultural competencies.

Review Questions (continued)  Identify several ways a client with a collectivist orientation might affect you. Now, identify how a client with a strong individualistic orientation might affect you.  Summarize the three main multicultural competencies.  Identify and describe several principles of multicultural competence in assessment.

Review Questions (continued)  What is the status of multicultural outcomes research? Which ethnic group has the most evidence of responding positively to counseling and psychotherapy?  Explain how there could possibly be no such thing as nonwestern counseling theory and therapy.  In the treatment of which mental disorders or client problems has mindfulness meditation shown promise?  What is the status of spiritual psychotherapy outcomes research?