1. CHAPTER 1 THE MULTICULTURAL JOURNEY TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE

2. Emotional Roadblocks to the Path of Cultural Competence
Strong emotions such as:
anger, sadness, and defensiveness are displayed when discussing experiences of race, culture, gender, and other sociodemographic variables

3. Emotional Roadblocks to the Path of Cultural Competence
These feelings can enhance or negate a deeper understanding of the worldviews of culturally diverse clients
Disturbing feelings serve to protect us from having to examine our own prejudices and biases (Winter, 1977)
Multiculturalism deals with real human experiences and it would behoove the reader to understand his/her emotional reactions on the journey to cultural competence

4. Common Emotions I FEEL GUILTY, “I could be doing more”
I FEEL ANGRY, “I don’t like to feel like I’m wrong”
I FEEL DEFENSIVE, “Why blame me, I do enough already”

5. Common Emotions I FEEL TRUNED OFF, “I have other priorities in life”
I FEEL HELPLESS, “The problem is too big…what can I do?”
I FEEL AFRAID, “I am going to do something…I don’t know what will happen”

6. Implications for Clinical Practice
Do not allow your own emotional reactions negate the stories of the most disempowered in society
Try to acknowledge your inherited biases openly so that you can listen to your clients in a non-defensive way
Experiences with people of color will enhance one’s cultural competence
Explore yourself as a racial/cultural being
Try to understand what your intense emotions mean for you when they arise
Do not squelch dissent or disagreements
Take an active role in exploring yourself