Cross‐Cultural Counseling Concerns

Abstract

The problems and concerns of cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy are evaluated. Specific questions are raised along with suggestions for cross-cultural counseling researchers and practitioners.

Counseling and Culture: Some Issues

“…These issues put many concerns surrounding cross-cultural counseling (e.g., research, cosmology, nosology, and testing; cf. Ahia, 1984) into a context in which they can be better understood. This article will introduce these issues and emphasize their importance in training interculturally skilled counselors.…”

Counselling the Micronesian client

“…The importance of culture upon the counselling relationship is well-documented (Ahia, 1984;Atkinson, Morten & Sue, 1993;Carter, 1992;Lowery, 1983;Saleh, 1989;Sue, 1991;Sue & Zane, 1987;Lappin, 1983). These comprised research on most cultural groups including the Asian (Kim, 1985;Jung, 1984;Shon, 1982), but there is no literature on Micronesian culture and its influence on the therapeutic relationship.…”

Facilitating Effective Cross‐Cultural Relationships: The White Counselor and the Black Client

“…These concepts are often intertwined and result in inaccurate or misguided conclusions. Ahia (1984) also observed that many researchers of different cultures are not members of the culture that is under investigation. Researchers are often White and middle class, which may result in data analyses being biased, perhaps unknowingly, toward the Western worldview.…”

“…Also, it must be noted that cultural bias is inherent in psychological tests and inventories. Ahia (1984) suggested that most tests are not applicable across different cultures. Intelligence tests and psychological inventories are often based on the middle-class White culture and therefore are not particularly relevant to Blacks (Smith, 1977).…”