Principles of Multicultural Counseling and Therapy

In an era of globalization characterized by widespread migration and cultural contacts, psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals face a unique challenge: how does one practice successfully when working with clients from so many different backgrounds? Gielen, Draguns, and Fish argue that an understanding of the general principles of multicultural counseling is of great importance to all practitioners. The lack of this knowledge can have several negative consequences during therapy, including differences in expectations between counselor and client, misdiagnosis of the client’s concerns, missed non-verbal cues, and the client feeling that she has been misunderstood. This volume focuses on the general nature of cultural influences in counseling rather than on counseling specific ethnic groups. Counseling practices from all over the world, not just those of Western society, are explored. Bringing together the work of a diverse group of international experts, the editors have compiled a volume that is not only concise and teachable, but also an essential guidebook for all mental-health professionals.

Table of Contents:
Wedding, Foreword. Gielen, Draguns, Fish, Principles of Multicultural Counseling and Therapy: An Introduction. Part I: Conceptual Foundations and Ethical Considerations. Sussman, The Role of Culture in Illness Interpretation and Therapy. Fish, Theoretical Issues, Principles, and Themes Relevant to Multicultural Counseling and Therapy. Fish, A Multicultural Counselor’s Guide to Race. Hirsch, Healing the Body and Mind: An Overview of Biopsychosocial Foundations and Applications. Stevens, Professional Ethics in Multicultural and International Context. Part II: Models of Multicultural Counseling. Tanaka-Matsumi, Functional Approaches to Evidence-Based Practice in Multicultural Counseling and Therapy. Coleman, Lindwall, Multiculturalism and School Counseling: Creating Culturally Relevant Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Programs. Koss-Chioino, Baca, Vargas, Group Therapy with Mexican American and Mexican Adolescents: Focus on Culture. Part III: The Practice of Multicultural Counseling. Laungani, A Clash of Cultures: A Case Study. Gielen, Al-Khawajah, The Practice of Counseling in Kuwait: An Interview with Jasem M. A. Al-Khawajah. Kuriansky, A Clinical Toolbox for Cross-Cultural Counseling and Training. Denham, Rethinking Counseling in Refugee Work: Post-Traumatic What? Part IV: Psychological Healing and Counseling: Indigenous, Western, or Both? Jilek, Draguns, Interventions by Traditional Healers: Their Impact and Relevance Within their Cultures and Beyond. Rubin, Deepening Psychoanalytic Listening: The Marriage of East and West. Part V: Academic Findings and Resources for Multicultural Counseling. Draguns, What Have We Learned About the Interplay of Culture with Counseling and Psychotherapy? Gielen, Draguns, Fish, Principles of Multicultural Counseling and Therapy: A Selective Bibliography. About the Editors. About the Contributors. Author Index. Subject Index.