As the counseling profession continues to build an international community, the need to examine cultural competence training also increases. This quantitative study examined the impact of the Diversity and Counseling Institute in Ireland (DCII) on participants' multicultural counseling competencies. Two instruments were utilized to examine…

Statistics show that two thirds of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) live outside of tribal areas, and 50% of those individuals who seek counseling services will not use tribal resources. There is a strong likelihood that counselors will have the opportunity to provide services to AI/AN clients. The review of the academic literature…

According to broad definition of culture, multicultural perspective applies to all counseling relationships. Multiculturalism may be described as fourth force (complementary to forces of psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic explanations of human behavior) in counseling from its own theoretical perspective. There are advantages to defining…

Contends that identity is constituted differently depending on the culture of origin. Against backdrop of U.S. individualism, explores cultural relativity of identity and pseudospeciation (false sense of cultural specialness). Notes that this literature grounds prejudice in evolution itself and provides reasons for movement beyond individualism to…

Considers it imperative that counselors engaged in multicultural counseling have understanding of what is meant by culture. Suggests that philosophical assumptions underlying worldview, the deep structure of culture, provide framework for better understanding cultural differences. Contends that viewing culture from this holistic perspective…

Presents brief review of major advances in multicultural counseling and psychotherapy literature and research. Emphasizes construct of "worldview" and how knowledge and understanding of client worldview leads to more effective, ethical, sensitive, and client-specific counseling and development activities and interventions. Reviews…

Attempts to redefine multicultural counseling using Afrocentric, holistic, optimal theory that views individuals as unique manifestations of spirit, thus sharing a common core. Viewing all counseling as multicultural, reconceptualizes multicultural counseling competencies as fundamental counseling skills achieved through self-knowledge and shift…

Promotes culture-specific counseling approach, which starts with the culture and its people and searches out natural helping styles. Uses case model drawn from African-Igbo culture and applies anthropological constructs that seek to discover more culturally sensitive approach to counseling theory, to training in counseling skills and knowledge,…

Argues that attempts to assess racial identity via single variables trivialize the construct. Suggests that problems with the manner in which the Racial Identity Attitude Scale was used in the Pomales, Claiborn, and LaFromboise (1985) study contributed to possible problems in scale reliability and interpretation. (Author/ABB)

Cultural sensitivity, cultural relativism, and the cultural defense are defined and described. Each concept is addressed in terms of its relationship to couple and family counseling. The role of counselor must be broadened and deepened to include the role of cultural broker. (Author/EMK)

Discusses the profound changes taking place in the field of psychology and suggests that multicultural perspectives and controversies are mediating these changes. Also suggests that a culture-centered perspective for the future will emerge as a "fourth force" to complement and strengthen the three conventional theories of psychodynamism,…

Identifies similarities between multicultural counseling competencies and the basic assumptions and methodology of qualitative research. Examines how various characteristics shared by these two approaches (i.e., using appropriate strategies and skills) are addressed under aspects of qualitative research, such as selection of the research question…

Examines competence in terms of practitioner's worldview. Explores the history of how frames of reference are influenced by secular intelligence and how imprecision of commonly used terms limits conceptual competence. Presents more precise multicultural lexicon as means of fostering critical thinking about competence in multicultural research and…

Describes two models of counseling and psychotherapy that are based on a synthesis of developmental theory and multicultural counseling theory with a coconstructivist epistemology: Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT), and Systemic Cognitive-Developmental Therapy (SCDT). Presents five principles to help clinicians expand their own…

Guidelines based on the American School Counselor Association's ethical codes and various social studies teaching techniques are presented for school counselors to use as they address the spiritual concerns of students. The role of the First Amendment in "spiritual" counseling in public schools and various multicultural considerations…