This book integrates
the literature and work on multicultural counseling competencies.
It draws out implications for individual, professional, and institutional
development by identifying the characteristics related to culturally
competent mental health care. As such, it has relevance for practitioners
who will increasingly encounter client populations who differ from
them in terms of race, culture, and ethnicity; it suggests how the
mental health profession needs to alter its practices to fit the
needs of the culturally different in our society; and it advocates
changes in mental health policy, programs, and organization. In
a very systematic manner, the text provides a working definition
of "multiculturalism" from which counselors, therapists,
and social workers can ground their awareness, knowledge, and skills.
It presents a new concept called "ethnocentric monoculturalism"
and traces how it has inundated our society and the mental health
professions. Written by leaders in the field of multicultural counseling,
Multicultural Counseling Competencies is a landmark volume in clinical
and counseling psychology, educational psychology, gender studies,
nursing, social work, psychology, health services, interpersonal
violence, and ethnic studies.
It serves as a guide for practitioners who encounter, or expect
to encounter, client populations that differ from them in terms
of race, culture, or ethnicity. It also suggests that professionals
need to alter their practices to fit the needs of the culturally
different in society, and advocates changes in mental health policy,
programs, and organization. And it offers a practical definition
of multiculturalism in which counselors, therapists, and social
workers, educational psychology, gender studies, nursing, social
work, psychology, health services, interpersonal violence, and ethnic
studies.
I’ve noted that a common response by many organizations to
racial tensions has been to offer antiracism training. Supporting
the idea that racial/ethnic identity development should be addressed
to both minority and majority individuals. One shortcoming of antiracism
training is that it does to explore differences in Whites’
awareness of their status of racial beings, and it seems important
for counselors and educators to begin to consider how racist attitudes
might be related to variations in White racial identity. Whites
seldom have an opportunity to examine the meaning of their Whiteness.
Preliminary research indicates that there may be complex interactions
between gender, White racial attitudes, and racism.
|
