Effective Cross-Cultural Counseling and Psychotherapy

Abstract

This article presents strategies to enhance effectiveness in cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy encounters. A major assumption is that a coherent orientation is needed that includes cultural differences yet transcends these differences and organizes the human experience in the context of individual world views within the framework of existential philosophy. An understanding of one's own world view and the client's world view are key elements in enhancing cross-cultural effectiveness. Other strategies that can enhance cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy include a discussion on the knowledge of semantic structures of reasoning and an understanding of culture-its premises and its relationship to effectiveness in cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy.

Do people’s world views matter? The why and how.

“…(Sue, 1977(Sue, , 1978a. World views denote people's perceptions of how the world works and reflect their cultural upbringing and life experiences (Ibrahim, 1985;Ivey, Ivey, & Simek-Downing, 1987;Katz, 1985 The specificity of these belief constructs is in sharp contrast to the outburst of enthusiasm for global self-views. Though it is necessary to acknowledge the important role of self-views in the prediction of human behavior and well-being (Swann et al, 2007), social psychologists emphasize the influences of both personality and the situation on social behavior (Lewin, 1936).…”

“…The nature and function of world views have long been recognized by anthropologists and used to explain human behavior (W. T. , while psychologists have placed the utility of world views mainly in cultural contexts (Sue, 1977(Sue, , 1978a. World views denote people's perceptions of how the world works and reflect their cultural upbringing and life experiences (Ibrahim, 1985;Ivey, Ivey, & Simek-Downing, 1987;Katz, 1985). Since cultures differ in the mental convictions and beliefs about the world that are socialized in their members, world views are highlighted in multicultural counseling, under the assumption that counselors should understand the world views of their clients from various cultural background in order to implement effective interventions (Sue, 1977).…”

Cross-cultural counseling and the near-death experience: Some elaborations

“…It is presumed that all people function within a culturally determined world view (Ibrahim & Arredondo, 1986). Effective counseling, then, requires making overt both the counselor's and the client's world views (Ibrahim, 1985a(Ibrahim, , 1985b. To argue for the exclusive use of any one theoretical orientation, without taking the world views of the participants into account, not only may be a disservice to the client but also may raise ethical considerations (Ibrahim & Arrendo, 1986).…”

Teaching counselling ethics: a resource book

“…According to Ibrahim (1985), a major assumption for culturally effective counselling is that counsellors acknowledge their own basic tendencies , the ways they comprehend other cultures , and the limits their culture places on their comprehension of the world. It is essential that students begin to understand their own cultural heritage and world view before they set about understanding and assisting their clients.…”

“…It is essential that students begin to understand their own cultural heritage and world view before they set about understanding and assisting their clients. This understanding will include an awareness of their own philosophies of life and capabilities , recognition of different structures of reasoning, and an understanding of the effects on their communication and helping style 26 (Ibrahim, 1985). In small groups, have students read through the case studies provided and determine , using the above decision-making model , an appropriate action to the ethical dilemma presented .…”