Multicultural Counseling: Working with People of Color

It is well-documented that working with minority populations can be challenging for therapists, especially for white therapists, largely because of trust and specific cultural issues. Because the current, if not ongoing, issues of racism and bigotry have been brought into the spotlight so starkly once again, I find it to be important and timely to look at these challenges more deeply, so that we, as therapists, can more effectively be part of the solution rather than contribute to the problem.

Williams and Levitt (2007)¹ studied the differences between the values of therapists and clients as they relate to multiculturalism. They found substantial evidence supporting the fact that real value differences exist between therapists and clients and, “therapists cannot be value-neutral and that they routinely convey their values with clients.” (p. 256) Therefore, they say, “the potential exists for therapists to consciously or unconsciously influence clients to become more like themselves.” They point out that most therapists are unaware of the potential negative effects of sharing such values with the client, because they do so intending to benefit the client. Within a multicultural context, there is a higher probability of alienation, shame and/or indoctrination for the client in ways that either shut down the treatment or is counter-indicated for real progress to be gained.

According to the research, among the most prominent ethnic minority groups in this country (African-Americans², Latinos³, Native-Americans⁴, Asian-Americans⁵ and Middle Eastern Americans), common themes exist in their overall experiences with therapy. Additionally, there is vast underutilization of mental health services, primarily for the following reasons: a sense of alienation and shame, stereotyping and lack of trust in the therapist (particularly a white therapist).

Because this phenomenon is so embedded in horrific histories as well as ongoing cultural disparities, it often seems insurmountable to rectify. But it is my strong conviction that we in this field can, and must, put every effort into positively intervening in this issue by fully recognizing it and, coming from a place of authenticity, fully focus respectfully on the unique cultural backgrounds and qualities of each human being we encounter.

¹Williams, D., & Levitt, H. M. (2008). Clients’ experiences of difference with therapists: Sustaining faith in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Research, 18(3), 256-270.

²Thompson, V. L. S., Bazile, A., & Akbar, M. (2004). African Americans’ perceptions of psychotherapy and psychotherapists. Professional psychology: Research and practice, 35(1), 19.

³Comas-Diaz, L. (2006). Latino healing: The integration of ethnic psychology into psychotherapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 43(4), 436.

⁴Heinrich, R. K., Corbine, J. L., & Thomas, K. R. (1990). Counseling Native Americans. Journal of Counseling & Development, 69(2), 128-133 and Trujillo, A. (2000). Psychotherapy with Native Americans: A view into the role of religion and spirituality.

⁵Leong, F. T., & Lau, A. S. (2001). Barriers to providing effective mental health services to Asian Americans. Mental health services research, 3(4), 201-214.

 

Respect-Focused Therapy (RFT) is a foundation on which all modalities and techniques used in therapy can be strongly grounded, in order to produce sound, effective outcomes. This approach offers clients the opportunity to gain experiential understanding of being respected, possibly for the first time, from the therapeutic relationship and then be able to heal old wounds by creating more respect for self and others in the therapeutic process.

 

 

Love Your Enemies

I rarely mix therapy with politics, but we are at a very dangerous precipice in our international history.

Hate has always existed. This has always mystified me. Why? And what are the predicating factors involved in the creation and sustainability of hatred? What is it about, really, and what can be done to diminish its destructive power?

By now we have all heard about the tragic events in Charlottesville. The ugliest head of hatred rose up again toward individuals simply because they were “other’’ and this resulted in violence and death. This incident has been hashed and rehashed in the media and will soon fade away like so many similar horrific incidents in our recent and not so recent past. The ongoing phenomenon remains. Hate and violence don’t seem to go away.

Carol Anderson, professor of African American Studies at Emory College, posed a very interesting theory in an interview I saw recently. She suggests that perhaps hatred is an addiction. At first I was adverse to the idea because it hasn’t been mentioned in addiction literature that I’m aware of. But the more I listened, the more it made sense to me. Just as rage can have addictive qualities, so might hatred share many of the same qualities. Both are based on irrational thinking; they both share adrenaline-related proprieties and appear to be based in victor mentality.

The question remains, though, how does this human emotion-driven behavior get treated? What, if anything can those of us in the mental health field do to effectively respond to or treat this infectious and devastating malady? There is no definitive answer to this and may not ever be. But I believe that the question remains valid and worth our ongoing pursuit. I think we have the best shot as a profession, to provide some answers.

In response to the most recently publicized display of targeted hatred, President Obama shared the popular tweet, “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love…”

I believe that therapists have an unique opportunity and skill set to help engage clients in the experiencial understanding of love in its purest form, respect. We can provide the path necessary to begin shifting the paradigm of hatred to genuine caring, kindness and respect toward others.

Respect-Focused Therapy (RFT) is a foundation on which all modalities and techniques used in therapy can be strongly grounded, in order to produce sound, effective outcomes. This approach offers clients the opportunity to gain experiential understanding of being respected, possibly for the first time, from the therapeutic relationship and then be able to heal old wounds by creating more respect for self and others in the therapeutic process.

Five Basic Principles of Respect

Respect is a concept that we often take for granted, but seldom reflect on.  However, we often feel the effects of a lack of respect: on the road, at work, or even in our own homes.  Generationally, we often note that children seem to be generally less respectful, especially with the increase of school violence, gang activity, and bullying.

It is therefore valuable to look at the issue of what respect really is and how we can better implement it in our lives.  I have outlined five basic principles which—I think—start to define and describe the fuller meaning of this word.

1. Respect is the “I-Thou” relationship, love in its highest, purest, most effective form.
2. Respect is not fear-based, cannot be demanded, but is freely given, based in positive regard.
3. Respect is a combination of action, attitude, and an open-minded perception of the world, seeing the best in others rather than the worst.
4. Respect is the active ingredient at the center of an individual’s dignity, integrity, and spirituality.
5. Respect is a basic, pivotal component in the determination between functional and non-functional social system.

The first principle speaks to the quality of relationship, mentioning Buber’s “I-Thou” conceptualization of the ideal moments in relating. It is in the most present and selfless awareness of another that we are able to experience love in its truest form.

The second principle is necessary for the first to exist. Fear is really the antithesis of respect and disallows respect to be authentic. To demand respect is to destroy it. Symmetry and mutuality replace hierarchy in instances of true respect.

The third suggests that respect is multi-dimensional, combining open-minded perception with proactive behavior seeking positive interactive outcomes universally.  It is not stagnant, but fluid, constantly evolving throughout our lifetimes.

Respect validates who we are at the core. The fourth principle suggests that respect is at the center of one’s dignity, integrity, and spirituality. To respect oneself is to pursue, develop and energize those inner values we hold precious. “Love one another as you love yourself,” implies that self-respect is a prerequisite to respecting others.  Genuine self-respect, then, is a primary building block in the ability to have healthy, respectful relationships in all facets of our lives.

Finally, the last principle points out that respect cannot be just an individual activity, but to sustain and grow it must be inherent in the larger systems of our lives, family social networks, community, nationally and internationally. Universal respect and social justice require ongoing awareness and intention from all of us collectively.

 

Respect-Focused Therapy (RFT) is a foundation on which all modalities and techniques used in therapy can be strongly grounded, in order to produce sound, effective outcomes. This approach offers clients the opportunity to gain experiential understanding of being respected, possibly for the first time, from the therapeutic relationship and then be able to heal old wounds by creating more respect for self and others in the therapeutic process.