Multicultural Competence in Counseling: Strategies and Skills

Introduction and Definition of Multicultural Competence

One of the key competencies of a counseling professional is the ability to work with clients in an attempt to help them resolve psychological or personal problems. Towards this end, a counselor ought to be knowledgeable not only in therapeutic theory but also have a superior comprehension of psychology. It is, however, important to note that this may not be all that is needed to succeed in the professional counseling realm. This is especially true given that in the performance of their roles, counselors meet clients from all walks of life, some of whom come from a different cultural background than that of the counselor. Cross-cultural encounters are therefore quite common in this profession, and the relevance of discussing multicultural competence as one of the key issues in counseling today cannot be overstated.

It would be prudent to first provide a definition of what multicultural competencies mean in the realm of counseling. It is important to note that there is no universal definition of multicultural competence in counseling literature; over time, various definitions have been proposed in an attempt to explain what multicultural competence entails. One such definition was offered by Mio, Barker-Hackett, and Tumambing (as cited in Kite, 2015), who argued that the definition of multicultural competence ought to comprise three key factors: "(1) developing an awareness of one's own cultural values and biases, (2) learning to value others' worldviews, (3) developing a set of culturally appropriate interpersonal skills." This is the definition of multicultural competence embraced in this discussion.

On this basis, multicultural competence in the counseling realm concerns a counselor's ability to properly handle cross-cultural encounters so as to inform or direct positive clinical outcomes. To a large extent, this would be difficult in the absence of awareness about one's own cultural biases, respect for the worldviews of others, and a set of interpersonal skills that could be deemed culturally appropriate. As explained further by the American Psychological Association on cultural awareness, these dimensions of competence are foundational to effective practice across diverse populations.

Demographic Context and Policy Guidelines

According to Colby and Ortman (2014), changes in U.S. demographics mean that the clientele that therapists and counselors are likely to serve is increasingly becoming diverse in terms of cultural background. Indeed, the 2010 U.S. census data indicates that 13.3% of the country's population comprises foreign-born persons — a total of approximately 42.3 million people at the time. The authors further note that in 2014, census data indicated that 37.8% of the population comprised ethnic and racial minorities as well as multiracial individuals. According to their projections, "by 2044, this percentage is expected to grow to more than 50% for racial and ethnic minorities, and by 2060, 20% of the U.S. population is expected to be foreign born" (Colby and Ortman, 2014). It is clear from this data that professional counselors ought to prepare to serve even more diverse populations going forward.

Following this realization, an important question arises: what strategies have been put in place to promote multicultural competence among counselors? One key strategy is training — programs focused on equipping counselors with the relevant knowledge and skills to not only embrace diversity but also value it and appropriately address issues relating to cultural differences in the course of professional engagements. Such training may be focused on the development of intercultural communication skills, knowledge of diverse cultures, and the proper handling of clients who are linguistically diverse. It should, however, be noted that according to Cornish, Schreier, and Nadkarni (2010), certain concerns must be addressed if multicultural competency training is to be effective. In their words, "the buy-in to employing the multicultural counseling competencies [in training], although well intentioned, is sometimes superficial and lacks a real understanding of the complexity and depth of the issues that relate to the competencies" (p. 212).

In addition to training initiatives, various standards and guidelines have been presented in an attempt to promote multicultural competence across education and training, professional practice, and supervised experience. In 2018, the American Psychological Association (APA) released updated multicultural guidelines for psychologists. According to APA (2018), this framework includes "10 guidelines and accompanying case studies to provide psychologists with a framework for providing multiculturally competent services" (p. 47). One guideline proposes that psychologists embrace the fact that they are cultural beings who may harbor a wide range of beliefs and attitudes that affect their perceptions and engagements — and, in turn, their conceptualizations on both the empirical and clinical fronts. As a consequence, psychologists ought to move beyond abstract ideas firmly founded on biases and categorical assumptions in order to promote better clinical outcomes. Another guideline states that psychologists should be aware of and appreciate the relevance of proper language and communication in sensitive interactions with clients. A further guideline calls upon psychologists "to promote culturally adaptive interventions and advocacy within and across systems, including prevention, early intervention and recovery" (APA, 2018).

Others, such as Ratts, Singh, Nassar-McMillan, Butler, and McCullough (2016), have also developed ethical codes and guidelines on multicultural counseling competencies targeted at counselors in both research and practice. These guidelines make the important point that persons who have no background in multicultural competencies training or education ought not to engage culturally diverse populations.

Counseling Intervention Strategies and Skills

The issue of multicultural competence cannot be ignored, particularly given that the U.S. population continues to grow more diverse every day. Counselors who do not embrace multicultural competence are likely to find themselves ill-equipped to handle the demands of tomorrow's professional counseling setting. It should also be noted that persons from different cultural backgrounds differ in terms of psychosocial development (Newman and Newman, 2008). There are many differences between cultures in attitudes toward various significant life events, and what works for a person from one culture may not necessarily work for a person from another. It is, however, impossible to guarantee that all clients will be paired with a counselor from the same cultural background. Differences in culture can erode the trusting relationship between the counseling professional and the client — especially when the client feels misunderstood or believes the counseling relationship will not adequately address their concerns. Multicultural competency is one way of maintaining this key component of counseling, as it enables counselors to establish more productive relationships with clients in multicultural settings.

Kite (2015) points out that millennials are acutely aware of the relevance of embracing diversity and are hopeful of a more equal and just society. This is supported by research indicating that close to 90% of millennials are convinced that people ought to be afforded equal treatment regardless of their racial or ethnic background. However, as Kite (2015) observes, although it is encouraging to know that millennials are more focused on resolving long-standing diversity concerns, "a closer look at how the millennials responded to other questions on the MTV survey reveals that students are less knowledgeable about the complexities of diversity than it seems at first glance." This same challenge applies to the counseling profession: while counselors may be aware of the relevance of embracing diversity, they may lack the practical knowledge and skills required to handle diversity issues effectively.

Towards this end, the importance of ensuring that cultural competency training properly addresses the depth and complexity of these concerns cannot be overstated. The training of new counselors should be firmly rooted in the practical application of multicultural counseling competencies. As noted by Cornish, Schreier, and Nadkarni (2010), "although the acceptance of the multicultural competencies as a baseline for training has significantly advanced the field, there are still some serious gaps" — particularly in the practical deployment of those competencies (p. 212).

Counselors also have a role to play at a personal level in the promotion of multicultural competence. Close assessment of both their own beliefs and backgrounds is essential. It is upon establishing one's cultural grounding that broader horizons can be explored and the perspectives of those from different backgrounds can be appreciated. Such self-assessment also assists in identifying underlying cultural assumptions. Counselors can further develop their competence by increasing their knowledge of the inequities that have historically affected various groups, with specific attention to the social context of those inequities. Understanding the impact of systematic discrimination and exclusion of specific groups based on their ethnic or cultural background can deepen a counselor's appreciation of the need to advance the cultural competence agenda.