Athabasca University a Culture Sensitive Manual
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ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY A CULTURE SENSITIVE MANUAL FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED TO TWO DIFFERENT CULTURES BY JACQUELINE LIM A final project submitted to the Campus Alberta Applied Psychology: Counselling Initiative in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF COUNSELLING Alberta September 2008 COMMITTEE MEMBERS The members of Jacqueline Lim’s final project committee are: Name of Supervisor Name of Second Reader Dr. Kenneth J. Barabash Dr. Roberta Neault ABSTRACT Research regarding multicultural counselling continues to increase as diversity within Canada rises. Traditional counselling services have targeted Euro-North American clients and do not take into account clients of various multicultural backgrounds. According to Statistics Canada, visible minorities represent 16% of the population (Statistics Canada, 2006) and visible minority populations are expected to reach 20% of the adult population within Canada and 25% of the child population by 2016 (Statistics Canada, as cited in Arthur & Stewart, 2001). In order to become competent counsellors and serve our diverse community, the awareness and sensitivity to the ever-changing cultural mosaic in Canada must increase. The purpose of the final project was to supply professionals who serve a diverse client population information that may educate and increase awareness on a range of topics that affect individuals who belong to different cultures. It seems information relevant to individuals who belong to different cultures is still relatively limited, and this final project will increase awareness and accessibility to both professionals and the public on issues that affect the entire Canadian population. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Developing this final project has been an incredible journey. I would like to thank my family and friends for their contribution in the experiences I have shared with them and what has led me to be who I am today. I would like to thank my wonderful fiancée, Vince Pau, for his love, strength, and spirit that has motivated me in everything I do in life. I would like to thank WCG International, particularly Judi Huta, for their incredible support and understanding in my preparing for this project. My work experience has enhanced my knowledge and passion for counselling. I would like to thank Dr. Sandra Collins and Dr. Nancy Arthur for their brilliant published book Culture-Infused Counselling: Celebrating the Canadian Mosaic. This book has made a huge difference to me, not only for this final project but in ways that have affected my professional and personal development as well. Finally, I am most grateful for the assistance and guidance from Dr. Kenneth J. Barabash, my supervisor. All of you have made a significant difference in the completion of this project. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract............................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................ii Table of Contents...........................................................................................................iii CHAPTER I....................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................1 The Importance of Multiculturalism ................................................................................1 CHAPTER II...................................................................................................................4 Developing the Manual ...................................................................................................4 CHAPTER III .................................................................................................................5 Literature Review............................................................................................................5 Ethics..............................................................................................................................8 Culture..........................................................................................................................11 Acculturation ................................................................................................................13 Biculturalism.................................................................................................................16 Constructivism ..............................................................................................................19 Worldviews...................................................................................................................22 Racism ..........................................................................................................................25 Ethnocentrism ...............................................................................................................27 Employment..................................................................................................................30 Working Alliance..........................................................................................................33 Future Research and Directions.....................................................................................37 References.....................................................................................................................40 Appendix: A Culture Sensitive Manual for Individuals Exposed to Two Different Cultures..............................................................................................................................54 iii CHAPTER I Introduction This final project, which includes a culturally sensitive professional manual for counsellors providing services to multicultural clients, is in partial fulfillment for the Campus Alberta Applied Psychology (CAAP) Graduate Program in Counselling Psychology. For the purposes of this project, multicultural clients refer to immigrants and their succeeding generations, and counsellors refer to all helping professionals that encounter multicultural issues. The purpose of the professional manual is to assist counsellors working with multicultural clients through exploring relevant literature, resources, and the multicultural counselling (MC) approach in hopes to provide support to individuals interfacing between two different cultures. Chapter I includes the introduction and the importance of the project. Chapter II includes the procedures in developing the manual. Chapter III includes the literature review with information on the history of multiculturalism and counselling in Canada. The professional manual is attached at the end of this document as a synthesized version of the final project, which includes some multicultural vignettes. The Importance of Multiculturalism Demographic shifts over the past few decades have forced counsellors to cope with the reality of ethno-cultural diversity (Tsang, Bogo, & George, 2003). In Canada, for example, visible minorities represent 16% of the population (Statistics Canada, 2006). Further, close to 10% of the adult Canadian population are visible minorities with this figure expected to double by 2016 (Esses & Gardner, 1996). Approximately 30% of the total population report ethnic origin as belonging to groups other than British, French, or 1 Canadian. Increased numbers of immigrants from visible non-dominant ethnic groups have moved to Canada during the past 30 years, represented by more than three-quarters of the immigrant population in the 1990s (Statistics Canada, 2003). Generally, many Canadian immigrants and their succeeding generations are exposed to at least two different cultures: the culture of their ethnic backgrounds and the Canadian culture. The range of individuals within this population is so diverse that the inter- and intra-group differences should be taken into consideration as an individual’s cultural identity may influence the counselling process. Traditional counselling services have targeted Euro-North American clients and they do not take into account clients of various multicultural backgrounds. Numerous researchers have concluded that a limited amount of multicultural counselling (MC) research and literature exists (Achenbach & Arthur, 2002; Clarkson & Nippoda, 1997; Jacob & Greggo, 2001; Moodley, 1999, 2000; Nelson-Jones, 2002; Robinson, Bradley, & Hendricks, 2000; Tsang et al., 2003). Further, numerous researchers have concluded that a lack of integrated models and empirical studies for comprehension of the role that acculturation plays in one’s functioning and coping processes into a mainstream culture exists (Kim, Laroche, & Tomiuk, 2004; Laframboise, Coleman, & Gerton, 1993; Shen & Takeuchi, 2001; Tsai, Ying, & Lee, 2000). For example, Ray Woolfe (as cited in Clarkson & Nippoda, 1997) stated in reference to the Handbook of Counselling Psychology that “the fact that there is no chapter in this book on counselling psychology in a cross-cultural context is in itself indicative of the distance that has yet to be travelled” (p. 415). According to Tsang et al. (2003), it is difficult for counsellors to use MC research findings because the literature has not been well integrated. As a result, we 2 are unable to conclude with absolute certainty that Western counselling alone sufficiently and successfully engages multicultural