Social and Cultural Paper 1

Social and Cultural Paper

Kaitlyn Zaiser

Grand Canyon University

CNL-509 Counseling the Culturally Diverse

Dr. Audra Tousaint, PhD, LPC

June 8, 2022
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Introduction

Biases are existent throughout many counseling experiences. This is due to several

reasons of inaccurate training in working with diverse populations, or a lack of understandings to

different cultures. The purpose of this paper will discuss my personal history with

discrimination, how subtle racism and discrimination is prominent towards culturally diverse

populations, and how same ethnic groups can display different perspectives and values, and how

the ACA code of ethics play a role in counseling practices in regard to being culturally sensitive

in communication styles.

Personal History with Discrimination

Everyone experiences biases towards certain demographics in society. As a future counselor,

it would be imperative to work on sustaining any biases in a counseling setting, as the goal is to

not project the personal beliefs and values of a professional onto our clients. My personal biases

towards demographics that resonate with me, may cause friction to those that may not identify

within my preferences. I strive to connect with tribal members and LGBTQIA+ individuals,

since those demographics share similar values to my own. However, the friction of specializing

with only those individuals limits the capacity and abilities to work with people who do not

either share the same values or have similar experiences to those.

My first experience of discrimination developed after moving from Alaska to Arizona at the

age of eight. When I shared with peers of my culture and origin, I was left with pointing fingers

and chants of being called an Eskimo, since that was the representation of people living in

Alaska. At eight, I could not conceptualize the ignorance behind those chants and pegged it as

they were misinformed of what types of people live in Alaska. However, I remember what I felt

when targeted as a stereotype—it felt as if I didn’t have a voice. I am not Eskimo, but I am
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Aleut, which is very different for several aspects of cultural reasons. This experience impacted

how stereotypes single people out for that one aspect to define their entire existence. I am more

than my Native heritage, just as others are more than their behaviors, their skin color, their

values, and practices in life.

Fast forward into my career as a high school math teacher in a Title 1 school, where majority

of the students are a minority in this country. Working with several students who come from

diverse ethnic backgrounds, as well as socioeconomic backgrounds have opened up my eyes to

the experiences they have had as well as the values they share within their community. While, I

am Native Alaskan, I am white passing, therefore have white privilege among my students.

Everyday, the students who walk the halls and sit in my classroom share their stories of the

oppression they face at already such a young age.

The best way to practice relatability is by sharing vulnerable experiences and asking

questions that could establishing positive rapport with someone. In counseling, my goal is to not

take away or overpower the experiences of my future clients but finding aspects to share over

may allow for others to feel safe or comfortable in sharing thoughts and feelings. From my

experiences of the microaggression towards Native American ethnicities, being part of the

LGBTQIA+ community, I can share strengths in overcoming the negative experiences to those

struggling. In addition, these experiences can empower advocacy towards equal rights and

treatments in schools to people of minority groups.

Racism and Discrimination

Racism is a tactic that involves another individual with the intention of being prejudice

towards a specific group of individuals (American Psychological Association, 2022). The act of

racism is to deem a certain person or persons based on their background as inferior to the
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individual targeting them. Microaggression happens to many if not all diverse cultures. As an

individual who identifies as lesbian, there are several types of microaggressions that have been

targeting to many others who identify similarly. Many LGBTQIA+ students are susceptible to

bullying in schools or experience some form of harassment based on their identity and tend to go

undetected in schools due to the aspect of these harassments being microaggressions (Linville,

2017). My experience of being closeted gay in high school was on the basis of bullying

happening in schools and the lack of accountability towards the perpetrators. The

microaggressions of being gay in the early 2010’s, was a taboo topic and used in conjunction of

negative terms, which was the reason of feeling unsafe in being my authentic self around my

peers.

Same ethnic groups who have different perspectives on racism and different values about

addressing racism. While my personal experiences are valid, that may not be a linear aspect to

those within the same community. Many individuals share similar experiences yet have different

takeaways about the racism or microaggressions that take place. Many groups jump to advocate

towards their groups at the first sign on racism, while others may be more decentered to the

amount of racism they experience overall (Carter & Murphy, 2015). This is caused by many

reasons of burnout of defending their diverse group or having stronger values to changing how

microaggression subtly impacts society altogether.

ACA and NAADAC Code of Ethics

A counselors ethical duties lie within specific Code of Ethics when practicing in our field. On

the basis of counseling the culturally diverse, there are a few specific guidelines professionals

need to adhere to. Counselors are to be aware and sensitive to the cultural diversities within their

clients’ backgrounds and to deflect pushing their personal values and beliefs onto others, while
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respecting the disclosed information that is being shared (American Counseling Association,

2014). The importance of being culturally sensitive is vital in the field of psychology, as this

career surrounds serving the communities we serve. Within these communities live many diverse

populations. Professionals who seek to maintain competency show consistency in awareness as

society evolves, as well as assist in eliminating in personal biases towards different

demographics (Benuto et al., 2020). When being sensitive to other diversities, the turnout of

treatment plans will have positive outcomes as their values and traditions are considered to their

livelihoods and align with their daily lives.

Help-seeking behaviors vary within different cultures on how they go about communicating

the things they need for a better sense of well-being. For example, many Asian-Americans tend

to be released on mental health services prior to completing their treatment plans based on

assisting in language barriers or lack of cultural knowledge (Jones-Smith, 2019). In LGBTQIA+

individuals, many help-seeking behaviors result in counseling services as opposed to

heterosexual individuals. Internal resistance is deemed to be a causing factor in the lack of

seeking help for this demographic (Zay Hta et al., 2021). Ways to encourage counseling with

these diverse populations can rely on destigmatizing mental health services and building safer

spaces to establish trusting environments and relations.

Best practices in building better trust and rapport with diverse populations is ensuring proper

cross-culture evaluations and assessments are implemented to reflect the specific norms and

values of these people. Engaging with clients by asking appropriate questions that are genuine in

curiosity to learn their culture is a first step in establishing rapport. Building trust implies a

person-centered practice and approach to counseling sessions, while considering the experiences
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of a diverse population such as their history as well their values to their culture (Substance Abuse

and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014).

Cultural biases in counselors stem from the lack of cross-cultural training and can be

corrected simply with the effort to learn different cultures, as well as the specific inclusive

practices to implement during counseling. Utilizing assessments such as implicit bias

assessments are one of the more reliable tools to assist counselors in the awareness to their biases

of diverse populations (Maina et al., 2017). Other tools to assist in providing better care is

initially networking with other professionals and collaborating on best practices either as a whole

or for a specific group that a professional is unfamiliar with. Communication is a key aspect in

understanding the experiences of a diverse group as they may not be relatable to a counselor;

however, this should not limit the ability to provide effective care if the clients experiences are

out of norm (Snowden, 2011). Ultimately, listening and validating experiences builds trust and

allows for a space of vulnerability to flourish.

Within my practice, I plan to utilize a person-centered approach so each client can have the

opportunity to feel safe in a space that allows for vulnerable conversations to happen. When

working with diverse groups, communicating, and asking genuine questions to assist in

understanding their background, values, norms, will allow for the treatment plans to reflect them

and cater to their needs. Implicit biases is within everyone, and plays an effect on the treatment

plans, the clients professionals take, as well as the level of comfort when working with a diverse

group, it challenges the professional capacities that lead to growth and delays racial equality

across the board (Stoute, 2020). Counseling is not always a one-sized-fits all experience,

especially with a population that is still working towards fitting into a new culture. As a

professional, pushing to be more collaborative and challenging the ability to work with
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something that is difficult can be very beneficial in the long run. Patience and compassion

towards these individuals will support positive results to a better well-being.

Conclusion

Cross-cultural counseling encourages a professional to look outside of the norms of their

everyday life and place their feet in someone else’s shoes. From my own experiences of micro-

aggression for being Native Alaskan and lesbian identifying, I have felt what it feels to be less

than and strive to empower my future clients to overcome these racial aggressions and find

power within themselves to live their best life. Applying the tools to cater to different diversities

will allow for positive outcomes in counseling, as it’s important to incorporate individuals’

values in their steps of treatment. Utilizing a person-centered and solution-focused approach with

true genuineness is a collaborative effort to work with individuals in their journey to a better

well-being.
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References

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