Read the following case study. Then, type an essay in which you clearly and completely answer all questions about this case study. . This assignment is not about general counseling principles and practices that you might use with all clients. Instead, it asks you to describe specific ways that you might adjust your counseling in light of the client's identified culture and your own.

You must include at least two specific in-text citations and end-references for this essay, including page numbers. The citations and references must be from your assigned readings for this lesson. Follow APA format for your references.

Make sure you have answered all questions prior to submitting. Once you have submitted your answers, you will not be able to change your answers.

Case Study: Louise

Louise, a 57-year-old Hopi widow, was referred to your agency for counseling by her doctor. The doctor recently diagnosed her with diabetes and is worried that her drinking will seriously impact her health. She lives with her niece and her niece's husband in a suburb of a large southwestern city, where she babysits her niece's three small children during the day.

Louise admits to binge drinking but believes she's entitled to feel good from time to time. She tells you that she believes the troubles in her life have been inflicted on her by an ex-family member whom she describes as a witch. Louise left the Hopi Reservation 5 years ago; her 80-year-old parents still live there.

Answer all of the following questions completely.

1. How would your own cultural identity affect your approach and/or treatment of this client? List potential generalizations and stereotypes that you may have about this client, based on cultural background. Describe some of your own cultural assumptions, beliefs, and values that might create barriers in the counseling relationship.
2. What are some cultural and sociopolitical reasons that this client might mistrust you? Using multicultural counseling concepts, describe how you would work with this client to build trust.
3. Knowing what you do about the communication patterns of your client's culture, what elements of communication (both verbal and nonverbal) would impact your effectiveness as a counselor with this client? Give specific examples of how these differences in communication style might cause misunderstanding or create barriers in the counseling relationship.
4. Describe at least three kinds of microaggressions that could occur as you counsel this client and how you would try to avoid them.
5. What approaches would you consider in counseling this client, given the cultural background?

Support your ideas with specific examples. Make sure to cite any information you quote or paraphrase from other sources in APA format. Review the grading rubric before submitting this assignment.

 

References:

 

SAMHSA. (2009). Culture card: A guide to build cultural awareness (American Indian and Alaska Native). DHHS Publication Number 08-4354. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA08-4354/SMA08-4354.pdf

 

Williams, R. & Gorski, T. (2007). Relapse Prevention Counseling for African Americans: A Culturally Specific Model.

Williams, R., & Gorski, T. (2006). Relapse Prevention Workbook for African Americans: Hope and Healing for the Black Substance Abuser.

Introduction to Multicultural Counseling for Helping Professionals 

Author: Graciela L. Orozco; Wanda M. L. Lee; John A. Blando; Bita Shooshani