Degree In Sight Show Both research and practice-oriented psychology students can benefit from a healthy dose of self-reflection, experts say. By Rebecca A. Clay Print version: page 24 Comment: As a former Asian-American studies minor with an interest in diversity and a minority-group member himself, Ali M. Mattu thought that he was ready to tackle just about any cultural issue when he began doctoral studies in clinical psychology at the Catholic University of America five years ago. As it turned out, the future diversity chair for APAGS was flummoxed by one of his first clients. "He was going on and on about confession, using a lot of Catholic lingo that I'm not familiar with," says Mattu, now chair-elect of APAGS. "Then he looked at me and asked point blank, 'Have you been to confession here?'" Instead of owning up to not being Catholic, Mattu sidestepped the question and missed an opportunity to explore a topic that meant so much to his client. Since then, Mattu has taken an intensive course on cultural issues in clinical psychology, which included lectures, self-reflection and community service. But while APA accreditation requires programs to cover cultural competence, and many states require such training for licensure, not all psychology programs offer the thorough grounding Mattu received. "Traditional models of training don't focus very much on learning how to adapt one's skills to different populations," says Janet E. Helms, PhD, director of the Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture at Boston College. "People still have a tendency to make cultural competence the topic they cover at the end of the semester, so they really don't cover it very well." That won't do, says Helms, who wants cultural competence integrated into every aspect of graduate training. "We're becoming an increasingly culturally complex country," she says, adding that training in cultural competence should include race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability status, and other demographic characteristics. Fortunately, say Helms and other experts, there are plenty of ways to get that training and experience on your own:
And remember: These steps are just the beginning, says Hays. "Cultural competence is a lifelong project," she says, adding that competence with one group doesn't mean you're competent with another. "You have to keep finding ways to expand your learning." Rebecca A. Clay is a writer in Washington, D.C. Comment: What factors would you consider to include a culturally diverse group?Cultural diversity.
Differences in race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, physical ability, language, beliefs, behavior patterns, or customs among various groups within a community, organization, or nation.
How do you deal with culturally diverse clients?5 Best Practices for Serving Diverse Customers. Know your clientele. Spend time talking with clients to learn about where they are from. ... . Seek out culture-specific knowledge of your customers. ... . Recognize patterns for communicating. ... . Attract diverse customers by having a diverse workforce. ... . Build relationships.. What are some multicultural considerations when working with clients?Multicultural Counseling Techniques to Use with Your Clients. Therapeutic approach. Counselors should attempt to be knowledgeable about their client's attitudes and beliefs about the counseling process in order to select appropriate interventions. ... . Communication. ... . Values. ... . Self-awareness. ... . Flexibility.. What is the most important thing to remember with culturally diverse clients?The important thing to remember is that differences in cultures are not good or bad; differences in cultures are not right or wrong. They are just different ways of doing and thinking. Direct care staff persons need to understand and be respectful of cultural differences.
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