SUBJECT

Title

Multicultural Counseling and Therapy

Type of instruction

practical

Level

master

Faculty

Faculty of Education and Psychology

Part of degree program

Credits

Recommended in

Semester 3

Typically offered in

Autumn semester

Course description

Aim of the course

The course points out at the limits of monocultural approach in the work of the practising psychologist and calls attention to the importance of interventions and strategies that are responsive to the experiences and values the clients. An emphasis is placed on the role of intercultural competences, cultural self-awareness of the experts and the recognition of the importance of the cultural perspective of the client.

The course addresses the question of status and power differences and minority-majority group position in the therapist-patient relationship and their influence on the process and outcome of counseling and psychotherapy.

Learning outcome, competences

knowledge:

Understanding of the basic issues of multicultural counseling and psychotherapy.
Understanding of how the cultural background influences behaviors and the framework of interpretation of both the therapist and the client as well as their relationship.
Familiarity with culturally responsive intervention techniques and strategies.

Attitude:

Openness to others, other cultures and their values.
Openness to and the recognition of the perspective of others.

Ability:

Ability to reflect on the hidden assumptions of one’s own culture, to identity own prejudices and ethnocentrism and to critically relate to them.
Ability to apply knowledge in the field of multicultural counseling and psychotherapy in practice and the ability to develop culturally sensitive techniques.

Content of the course

Topics of the course

Introduction to counseling and psychotherapy
The concept of a person and family models in different cultures
Confines of monocultural counseling and psychotherapy viewed from the side of the therapist and that of the patients
Main criteria of multicultural counseling and psychotherapy
Gender in counseling and psychotherapy
Multicultural competence models
The development of multicultural competence in psychotherapy and counseling
Power relations and social justice in counseling and psychotherapy
Family and community genogramm

Learning activities, learning methods

interactive lecture
working in small groups and dyads
reading literature
project plan.

Evaluation of outcomes

Learning requirements, mode of evaluation, criteria of evaluation:

requirements

written reflections on readings
written test
presentation of project plan

mode of evaluation:

written and oral

criteria of evaluation:

Understanding the course materials and the connection between diffent concepts.
Ability to apply knowledge in practice.

Readings

Compulsory reading list:

Bernal, G. E. – Domenech Rodríguez, M. M. (2012). Cultural adaptations: Tools for evidence-based practice with diverse populations. American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Dwairy, M. A. (2006). Counseling and psychotherapy with Arabs and Muslims: A culturally sensitive approach. Teachers College Press, New York.
Fawcett, M. L. – Evans, K. M. (2012). Experiential approach for developing multicultural counseling competence. Sage Publications Inc.
Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2012).Family therapy: An overview. Cengage Learning.
Lum, D. (2010). (4th edition) Culturally Competent Practice: A Framework for Understanding Diverse Groups and Justice Issues. Brooks/Cole. Ebből Part 2: Cultural competence framework.
Pedersen, P. B. – Carey, J. C. (2003)..Multicultural Counseling Schools: A Practical Handbook. Allyn & Bacon.
Ratts, M. J. – Pedersen, P. B. (2014). Counseling for multiculturalism and social justice: Integration, theory, and application. John Wiley & Sons.
Sue, D. W. – Gallardo, M.E. –Neville H. E. (Eds.) (2014). Case studies in multicultural counseling and therapy. Wiley.
Sue, D. W. – Sue, D. (2012). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons. New York.

Recommended websites:

American Psychological Association. (2011): Guidelines for psychological practice with

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients.

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/guidelines.aspx

American Psychological Association. (2002). Guidelines on Multicultural Education,

Training, Research, Practice, and Organization Change for Psychologists.

http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/policy/multicultural-guidelines.aspx