Meet the Therapist!
This time, you will look into the mirror and meet yourself! Whether you eventually train to be therapist or counselor, or work in a different capacity as a member of the care giving professions, cultural competency is a must. Review the APA Guidelines on multicultural education and training for psychologists, which are provided in this week’s resources.
Assignment
Although psychotherapy has a Eurocentric foundation, not only Europeans and European-Americans benefit from psychotherapy. Even within the Eurocentric approach to psychotherapy, there have been contributions from other cultures such as mindfulness. The focus of this assignment is on multicultural and transcultural psychotherapy.
Begin by creating a chart of at least 10 considerations that are involved in tailoring a therapy for a specific culture. For example, consider the following:
the way a culture relates to family members, significant others, and peers;
how they make use of leisure time or play; and
how they communicate, use language, maintain certain values and mores.
Next, reviewing the various therapeutic approaches you have examined to date, select one. Indicate briefly, in your own words, how well the selected therapy addresses each consideration you have listed.
Complete this review with your personal conclusions regarding the necessity or lack of such of modifying therapy for specific cultures. If you do not share the same cultural background of your client, determine if you can ethically counsel them effectively.
You may support your conclusion with information from your own background.
Length: 1-2 page chart and 1-page summary
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards.
