The counseling process, client expectations, and cultural influences: a review

Abstract

The counseling process is a complex activity. Among the factors that contribute to this complexity are client expectations and cultural influences. These factors have received increased attention over the past few years.The main emphasis of this review will be on client expectations in a cultural and cross-cultural context. Culture is considered to be '...the configuration of learned behavior and results of behavior whose components and elements are shared and transmitted by the members of a particular society' (Linton, 1945: 32). A cross-cultural counseling situation is one in which the learned set of behaviors of the counselor is different from that of the client. Obviously, any two leamed sets of behavior potentially may differ from each other to a greater, lesser, or moderate degree. It might be hypothesized that the greater the difference between the counselor and client learned behavior sets, the lesser the chance of counseling success.As stated previously, the focus of this review is upon client expectations about counseling. Many of the articles reviewed deal with client expectations directly. A variable of client expectancy is client preference. To whom does the client prefer to talk, a woman or a man? Client preference literature will also be reviewed, and it will be considered along with the expectancy literature.The literature reviewed consists of both data based and non-data based presentations. The present understanding of this topic is still at a formative stage, and it is important to consider both empirical and apriori approaches. In some cases, studies have been executed with data collection and analysis; and in other cases, individuals have written of their personal experiences.

Client Perspectives of Multicultural Counseling Competence

“…Other studies in matching clients and counselors have found that Black and White clients preferred racially similar counselors (Harrison, 1975;Helms & Carter, 1991;Morten & Atkinson, 1983;Sattler, 1977), Mexican American clients preferred ethnically similar counselors (Lopez, Lopez, & Fong, 1991), Black adolescents preferred attitudinally similar counselors over racially similar counselors (Porche & Banikiotes, 1982), Asian Americans appreciated counselors who are culturally sensitive versus culturally blind (Gim et al, 1991), and that counselor credibility is linked to counselors' ability to meet client expectations (Hector & Fray, 1987). The matching literature therefore suggests that clients prefer to have counselors who are like them in values and worldview (Coleman et al, 1995), but in the absence of this guarantee, clients may select counselors on visible demographic criteria in the hopes of obtaining a counselor who shares some similar elements in worldview and values.…”

What's missing from multicultural competency research: Review, introspection, and recommendations.

“…Hector and Fray (1987) reviewed literature regarding client expectations in a cultural and cross-cultural context. They found that clients had some preconceived notions about what counseling will or should provide.…”

“…Participants were often not clients involved in counseling relationships, rather they are observers of analog situations (e.g., Gim et al, 1991) or participants in simulated situations. Moreover, the studies examined a variety of perceptions of clients that, while providing valuable information, do not clearly identify a range of cultural competencies (e.g., Hector & Fray, 1987; LaFromboise, 1992; Sodowsky, 1991). These previous studies lay some groundwork for research into client experiences in multicultural counseling settings, which clearly is complex, dynamic, and contingent on a number of factors.…”

“…The study did not provide any information regarding the perceptions of cultural competence but simply focused on client variables and counselor race. Hector and Fray (1987) reviewed literature regarding client expectations in a cultural and cross-cultural context. They found that clients had some preconceived notions about what counseling will or should provide.…”

A comparison of perceptions of counselling in Ireland and the United States

“…Cultural factors in uence clients' expectations of counselling (Hector and Fray, 1987). These expectations in turn determine whether they engage in the process and its outcome.…”