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Counseling African Americans: A Case Study

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Counseling African Americans A multicultural competent counselor is, someone who’s able to work efficiently with groups of students from culturally distinct groups (Thomas & Vines, 2008). Furthermore, culture competency plays a key role in how counselors diagnose and treat their patients from any background or culture. The (Surgeon General, 2001) broadly defines culture as a common heritage or set beliefs, norms and values. Culture applies to all groups of people but unfortunately; there are major mental health disparities amongst minority individuals compared to white individuals. According to the Surgeon General (2001), ethnic minorities have less access to mental health services than their white counterparts. Additionally, minorities are …show more content…
The DSM 5 Outline states, counselors should ask patients, their cultural identity, discover what possible cultural clarifications for the patients’ illness, and be thoughtful of cultural factors related to patients’ mental health and overall well-being. Also, counselors critically analyze cultural elements in their relationship with the client, and concentrate on the overall cultural assessment of the best course of action for client care. In this scenario, I will be examining how cultural competency is important when developing trust, diagnosing, and treating adolescent African American …show more content…
Equally important, i realize that multicultural counseling involves diversity and sometimes nontraditional roles as a counselor in a school setting Thomas & Vines (2008). My client’s parents and I agree to a meeting and that i would facilitate a session devoted to addressing her behavioral concerns and its impact on her school performance. With my client’s permission, I disclose to her parent’s my clients expressed commitment to her and her family’s faith. I asked her parents if they ever consider their daughter’s behavior in context of their religion. Collectively, the parents, my client, made a holistic approach which can be applied to integrate her beliefs with her developmental growth Thomas & Vines

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