Multicultural Counseling and Therapy (MCT) 

Read the posts of your peers and respond to at least two in terms of your understanding of how MCT expands the practices and roles of counselors.

Multicultural Counseling and Therapy (MCT)

Collapse

How does MCT expand the practices and roles of counselors as therapists, as compared to traditional practices and roles?

According to Sue & Sue (2013), the traditional multicultural counseling role is defined as a helping role that consist of teaching, consulting and advocacy. Surprisingly interesting, the role of a counselor doesn’t carry the extended responsibility and requirements of a Multicultural therapist. Sue & Sue (2013) is strikingly different with their traditional views of counseling and therapy. Dr. Sue expressed in the mini-lecture that MCT has a dual definition as a helping role, processing the use of modalities and defining goals, consistent with the life experiences and cultural values of clients.

In addition, MCT actually broaden the role; enhancing the need to play multiple roles including systems intervention. The two main important roles are avoiding a blind application of techniques regarding all situations and populations, using empathy, self-disclosure, respect, warmth, agreeing on goal setting with client (Sue & Sue, 2013).

What is the significance of a client’s social and cultural context within MCT and how does MCT challenge counselors to intervene at the systems level?

(Sue & Sue, 2013), explains the importance of how multicultural therapy balances both/combine the individualism approach and the collective approach, with the acknowledgement of communities, cultures, families – even spouses (mates). It’s equally important that the counselor recognize the clients gender, cultural and racial background, and their economic status which can affect/change the assessment, diagnosis and/or treatment plan.

MCT challenges the counselor to understand individuality, create an environment that cultivates the optimal development of the client and their systems, by using only facts, removing self-bias and supporting confidentiality.

References

American Psychological Association (2003). Multicultural guidelines: Education, research, and practice. American Psychologist, 58, 377–402.

Pedersen, P. B. (2002). The Making of a Culturally Competent Counselor. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 10(3).