AFRICAN AMERICANS AND COUNSELING Presented by Jocelyn Williams
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND COUNSELING Presented by: Jocelyn Williams and Mollee Reitz
Presentation Outline Introduction of Topic Video: I Too Am Harvard Video Discussion Ethical and Professional Considerations for Multicultural Counseling Cultural Considerations for African Americans Counseling Interventions & African Americans Narrative Therapy and Counseling African Americans Stereotypes Discussion Question Activity References
I Too am Harvard
I Too Am Harvard
I Too am Harvard
I Too am Harvard
I Too Am Harvard https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=u. AMTSPG ZRi. I
Ethical & Professional Considerations for Multicultural Counseling Be knowledgeable about and adhere to ACA’s Multicultural Competencies “For white counselors to become allies to communities of color, they must move beyond simply developing their awareness, knowledge and skill…to effectively partner with and support the needs of communities of color, counselors require more advanced skills and dispositions — such as those possessed by allies” (Hipolito-Delgado, 2014) � � � Having positive experiences with communities of color Learning from communities of color Identifying shared values and life experiences with communities of color Having firsthand experience of the inequities or injustices encountered by communities of color Receiving encouragement to be an advocate for communities of color
Ethical & Professional Considerations for Multicultural Counseling (cont’d) Multicultural Ethical Decision-Making Model (Frame & Williams, 2005) Identify and define an ethical dilemma – What is the crux of the dilemma? Who’s involved? What are the stakes? What are the cultural and historical factors that are at play? Explore the context of power – Where am I located in the power structures of my culture and community? Where is my client located? How could a power differential between myself and my client affect the welfare of my client? Assess acculturation and racial identity development – Where is my client in the process of acculturation? Where am I? How do these levels of acculturation affect my ethical thinking and acting? Seek consultation – Who do I know that is a culturally competent counselor? What are the values, beliefs, meanings, cultural traditions of my consultant? What is my consultant’s position in the context of power? Generate alternative solutions – How does each of the options available to me fare when examined on the basis of the model’s criteria above? What are my fears or misgivings about each option? Select a course of action – What role has my client played in the decision-making process? What are my motives in selecting this course of action? What is my rationale? What is my critique of my decision? Evaluate the decision – How does this choice fit with the ethical code? How were my client’s cultural values and experiences taken into consideration? What did I learn from the struggle to resolve this ethical dilemma?
Cultural Considerations for Counseling African Americans seek professional help, such as mental health services, at lower rates than other ethnicities (Taliaferro, Casstevens, & Decuir Gunby, 2013) Cultural Considerations � Religious/Spiritual Connection (Smart, 2010) Tend to rely on and draw support from God, ministers, church staff, and prayer � Importance of Community (Smart, 2010) Strong reliance on family and friend networks More apt to seek advice from family doctor, clergy, or family member
Cultural Considerations for Counseling African Americans (cont’d) � Reluctant self disclosure (Smart, 2010) Dedication to personal and family confidentiality � “Ethnic mismatch” – Whites only (Smart, 2010) Attitudes toward Mental Health Counseling � Distrustful (Smart, 2010) Perceptions of past negative experiences with mental health care Many fear that the experience may mirror racism and discrimination – similar to exclusion from schools or problematic contact with the police and justice system Past experiences of not being treated like a person Label that Whites give to African American children
Cultural Considerations for Counseling African Americans (cont’d) Inadequate treatment in health services, in general – Long wait periods, discontinuity of care, inequality in the health care system, perceived unevenness of treatment from white doctors � More likely to reject genetic explanations and attribute mental health issues to (Smart, 2010) - Upbringing Bad character God’s will (spiritual component) Need to strengthen relationship/spiritual connection with God Having a weak mind Poor health Lack of self love
Cultural Considerations for Counseling African Americans (cont’d) � Fear of judgment/stigma (Smart, 2010) Shame, rejection, embarrassment “blackballed”, “outcasted” Stigma is considered to be the cause for social distance between those with mental illness and those without, as well as a lack of support for family members who seek mental health services � Stereotypes and Myths (Smart, 2010) Mental illness is contagious, dangers, and unpredictable No recovery Mental illness is a curse/weakness “Crazy” people are sent to the state psychiatric hospital
Therapies that are Considered Viable with African American Clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Behavior Therapy Feminist Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy Narrative Therapy Why do you think each of these therapeutic techniques is considered to work well with African American clients? Do any of these techniques reflect the cultural considerations we discussed earlier?
Narrative Therapy explores the human condition via the stories that clients bring to therapy (Semmler, 2000). Clients are able to prescribe their own value and meaning to each of their stories (Semmler, 2000). What clients know about themselves and the world around them is largely influenced by “the cultural practices in which we are all, clients and counselors alike, embedded” (Semmler, 2000). Therefore, narrative therapy allows a client and therapist to explore what views, cultural assumptions, and beliefs are influencing that client and his or her life story.
Narrative Therapy Steps (Simplified) 1 • The deconstruction phase: • Listen to meanings attached to story • Investigate influences on those meanings 2 • Externalizing the problem: • Explore patterns of experience and recognize exceptions • Discover strength(s) by portraying client as protagonist and “problem” as antagonist. 3 • Re-authoring: • Coauthor alternative stories that increase empowerment and meaning • Alternative stories should represent the client’s actual experience. • AKA “reversing narratives of failure” (Semmler, 2000).
Narrative Therapy with African American Clients A key belief in NT is the idea that a person’s problems or dilemmas result from his or her social context rather than the individual. Therefore, “oppressive ideas and practices” are the causes of racism and similar social issues, rather than the victim. However, “internalized racism” is also placed outside the client and viewed as the result of these practices and “habits of action” (Semmler, 2000).
Narrative Therapy with African American Clients (cont’d) NT “acknowledges roles that socially oppressive discourses, such as racial stereotypes, can play” (Taliaferro et al, 2013, p. 38). NT also acknowledges the distinctions between dominant and non-dominant cultures (Taliaferro et al, 2013). Therapists must be able to acknowledge cultural differences, racism, and prejudice in order to effectively use NT. Ignoring these issues could prevent a client from discussing race or cultural issues and as a result prevent the counselor and client from fully addressing the client’s problem(s).
Narrative Therapy with African American Clients (cont’d) NT can help increase awareness of the impact of race, gender, and other social constructs in the client’s life. NT can help African American clients develop a healthy racial identity, manage social stigma, and prevent the internalization of negative racial stereotypes and prejudices that often occur at the pre-encounter stages of raceidentity formation (Semmler, 2000).
Fact vs. Stereotype A fact is an absolute statement whereas a stereotype is an oversimplified idea or representation of a person or thing. When treating any group of people it’s important to remember that certain traits, such as collectivism, may be more common, but that does not mean they are applicable to all people in that group. Assuming any trait is present without evidence or discussion is a form of stereotyping.
Discussion Question Activity
References Frame, M. W. , & Williams, C. B. (2005). A model of ethical decision making from a multicultural perspective. Counseling & Values, 49(3), 165 -179. Hipolito-Delgado, C. P. (2014, March 27). Beyond cultural competence. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from Counseling Today website: http: //ct. counseling. org/tag/multiculturalism-diversity/ Murdock, N. L. (2013). Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy A Case Approach (3 rd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Rockquemore, K. , & Laszloffy, T. A. (2003). Multiple realities: A relational narrative approach in therapy with Black-White mixed-race clients. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal Of Applied Family Studies, 52(2), 119 -128. doi: 10. 1111/j. 1741 -3729. 2003. 00119. x Semmler, P. , & Williams, C. (2000). Narrative therapy: A storied context for multicultural counseling. Journal Of Multicultural Counseling And Development, 28(1), 51 -62. doi: 10. 1002/j. 2161 -1912. 2000. tb 00227. x Smart, J. S. (2010). Mental health utilization among african americans: The relationship between attitudes towards seeking professional help and coping responses. (Order No. 1486678, California State University, Long Beach). Pro. Quest Dissertations and Theses, , 98. Retrieved from http: //search. proquest. com/docview/759608574? accountid=14868. (759608574). Taliaferro, J. D. , Casstevens, W. J. , & Decuir gunby, J. , T. (2013). Working with african american clients using narrative therapy: An operational citizenship and critical race theory framework. The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, (1), 34 -45. Retrieved from http: //search. proquest. com/docview/1417521447? accountid=14868
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