2 culturally effective helping

Chapter Two:

Culturally Effective
Helping

©2013, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

What is Culture?

Culture – “That complex whole which includes
knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, morals, customs,
and capabilities acquired by a person as a member
of society. It is a way of life of a group of people,
the configuration of all the more or less stereotyped
patterns of learned behavior which are handed
down from one generation to the next through the
means of language and imitation” (Adler 1997).


Four Attributes of Effective Multiculutral
Crisis Intervention
(Kiselica, 1998)

Knowledge of one’s own cultural biases.

Basic knowledge about a variety of cultures.

Willingness and ability to use skills and
techniques that better match the culture of the
client in crisis.

Experience in counseling and crisis
intervention with clients of a different culture.

Ten Culturally Biased Assumptions
(Pederson, 1987)

There is a universal measure of “normal” behavior.
Individuals, rather than groups, are the foundation of all
societies.
Definitions of presenting problems are limited by
professional disciplines.
Western culture relies on abstract thinking.
Independence is valued over dependence.
Professional Counseling is better than natural support
systems.

Ten Culturally Biased
Assumptions Cont.
(Pederson, 1987)

Linear causality is more accurate than circular
causality.
Individuals need to change to fit the system.
The client’s history does not affect the current
situation.
Interventionists are aware of ALL of their biases.

ALL TEN ASSUPMPTIONS ARE FLAWED!

Multicultural View of
Crisis Intervention

Universal vs. Focused
Universal View examines racial and ethnic
minorities, as well as special populations.
Focused View examines only “visible and
racial ethnic minorities.”

Etic vs. Emic
Etic – one dimensional or linear lens
Emic – gestalt or circular lens

Worldviews

What is the client’s world view?
Self-concept, sense of well-being, emotional
control, and relational and attributional styles

Opposing Views
Individualism vs. Collectivism
High-Content vs. Low-Content
High-Uncertainty vs. Low-Uncertainty

Multicultural perspectives
in Crisis Intervention

Victims of a crisis base their ability to overcome the
trauma by relying on their own set of cultural
survival skills.
May be significantly different from the cultural skills
of the crisis worker.

Not recognizing the client’s worldview may lead the
crisis worker to make grievous errors in
assessment and treatment of crisis intervention.

Individualism Vs. Collectivism

Individualism Collectivism
Centralizes the personal and Assumes that the individual is
peripheralizes the social group. simply a component of the larger
Prefer low-context direct social group.
communication. Prefer high-context indirect
Prefer a confrontation and communication.
arbitration approach to conflict Prefer an accommodation
resolution. approach to conflict resolution.

No difference regarding one’s “sense of family obligation.”

High-Content Vs. Low-Content

High-Content
Low-Content
Self-image and worth are
defined in reference to a Self-image and worth are
group. defined in individual terms.
Information is expressed Information is expressed
implicitly and non-verbally. explicitly.
May become embarrassed Does not like the use of
when talking directly about stories, proverbs, metaphors,
the crisis event. etc. as a method of
communication.


High-Uncertainty Vs.
Low-Uncertainty

High-Uncertainty Low-Uncertainty
Abides by a broad range Abides by a more laid-
of rigid rules, back attitude of
regulations, and acceptance of the
procedures that cover a situation and gratitude
multitude of situations. for survival.
“I’m alive, that’s all that
matters, I’ll figure the
rest out later.”


Social Locations

What is your identity? Employee
Mother Musician
Wife Recovering Alcoholic
Daughter Alumni of Indiana
Sister University
Friend Member of Junior
Auxiliary
Athlete
Raised in a small town
Lives in an urban area

Catholic

Social Location Models

RESPECTFUL
Religious/Spiritual
Economic class
Sexual identity
Psychological development
Ethnic/racial
Chronological age
Traumatic threats
Family
Unique physical issues
Language/location of residence

Social Location Models Cont.

ADDRESSING
Age
Development
Disability
Religion
Ethnicity
Social class
Sexual orientation
Indigenous heritage
National orientation
Gender

For a complete list, include geographic location, living area (urban,
suburban, rural), occupation, education, and marital/partner status.

Social Locations Graph

Ecology – the living environment in which the
intervention occurs.


Shortcomings of a Multiculturalist
Approach to Crisis Intervention

Lack of consensus on key terms.
Ethnicity
Race
Ethnic and racial identity
Culture

Inaccurate assumption that current theories of
counseling, psychotherapy, and crisis
intervention are inherently biased and
oppressive.


Shortcomings Cont.

Much of the literature on multicultural
competencies has not been peer reviewed or is
not based on empirical research.

False acceptance of the division between
collectivist and individualist cultures.


Characteristics of Effective
Multicultural Counselors

Empathic
Caring
Demonstrates positive regard
Advocates

Genuine belief that humans are more alike
than they are different

Effective Strategies of
Multicultural Crisis Intervention
Do’s
Examine and understand the client’s worldview.
Use alternative roles that are appealing to the client.
Assist the client in utilizing culturally indigenous support systems.
Take your time to fully triage the situation.
If possible, normalize the reaction to a traumatic event.
Empower the client.
Don’ts
Impose personal values and expectations onto the client.
Stereotype the client, client behaviors, or culture.
Force unimodal counseling approaches upon the client.
Interfere with long-held issues ingrained in the client.


Obstacles to Effective Multicultural Crisis
Intervention

Language Barriers
Confidentiality
Translators
Family member vs. professional translator

Religion/Spirituality
often mistakenly avoided by the crisis worker
Religion, spirituality, and faith are often a large part of the
crisis response.
Do NOT merely suggest the client consult with their
religious/spiritual leader as a means to abdicate your
responsibility as a crisis worker.


Obstacles Cont.

Social Support System
May not be used in a linear way.
“Family” may not be limited to those living in the house of the
client.
Using professional services may be taboo in some cultures.
Occupation
Many crisis workers often mistakenly fail to address this
significant social location.
Rural Geographic Locale
Typically lack resources and do not have the population to
warrant federal aid.
May be suspicious of professional service workers from other
communities.

More Obstacles

definition of “help”
may differ between the crisis worker and the client.

Who’s turf is it?
Cultural differences are exacerbated when an “outsider”
crisis worker enters the “turf” of the client.
“Outsider” could mean from a different geographic
region, state, county, or even town.
Crisis workers need to be aware of the cultural subtleties.


The Dilemma of Local Consultation

Local leaders know the infrastructure of the
community.

Using local leaders may provide a model of
cooperation for community members.

Local leaders may have their own agendas rather
than maintaining objectivity.

Non-local crisis workers should not attempt to
address social injustices ingrained in the community.


Who Receives Services?

People most likely to receive services are:
YAVIS
Young
Attractive
Verbal
Intelligent
Socially well connected

People most likely NOT to receive services are:
Low-income, elderly, limited-education, and ethnic
minorities


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