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Culturally Sensitive and Responsive Counseling

When you begin work with couples and families, you likely will conclude after only a few cases that all couples and families are different in at least a few ways.

Members of these couples and families individually belong to many different population subgroups, with each group exerting cultural influence.

Based on conflict resolution traditions or power distance index of a certain culture, for instance, you may need to modify the theoretical approach you take with a client with that background.

Keep in mind that the classroom study of theory and intervention integration cannot provide a description of how to modify or tailor your theory to all the potential relational and cultural presentations you will see. It should, however, provide you with a solid foundation and a toolbox with which to work.

As an evolving marriage, couple, and family counseling student, you must rely on your wisdom, developed by reflecting on the work you have done to date, and on continuing to read current evidence-based research. Through such reflections, you will develop ways of altering aspects of your theory-in-action to enhance the potential therapeutic benefits of your services to future clients.

To prepare for this Discussion, select a cultural consideration (related to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) and think about how this consideration may impact the application of your theoretical orientation. Then, reflect on how you might modify interventions in client work in which this consideration is present.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 a brief description of the cultural consideration you selected. Then, explain two challenges of applying your theoretical orientation to address this cultural consideration, and explain how you might modify interventions to be more culturally sensitive and responsive. Justify your response using evidence-based articles.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

Readings

Course Text: Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., & Snyder, D. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy (5th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Chapter 19, "Couple Therapy and Intercultural Relationships"

Chapter 18, "Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues in Couple Therapy"

Article: American Counseling Association (ACA). (2014). ACA Code of Ethics.

Website: American Mental Health Counselors Association. (n.d.). Transformation in action.