Ethical and Multicultural Self-Assessment - Term Paper Example

?Ethical and Multicultural Self-Assessment Explain the importance of ethical and multicultural competency to the practice of professional psychology. Give example. Ethical and multicultural competency in the practice of professional psychology is important primarily because different people have different cultures and the culture often intentionally or unintentionally controls and defines the reality for most people (Bernal, Jimenez-Chafey, and Domenech-Rodrigues, 2009). For professional psychologists, it is important to be culturally competent in order to be effective in one’s practice. Being culturally competent also means being knowledgeable about the specific beliefs and practices of individuals based on their race, their culture, or their religion. For most individuals, their behavior and belief system is usually based on how they were raised within their culture (Bernal, et.al., 2009). Individual reactions to events and one’s coping strategies and tools is often founded on one’s culture and more often than not, most people find their comfort in their culture. In effect, to ensure that professional psychologists are able to help their patients deal with their psychological issues, it is important for these psychologists to have a working understanding and knowledge of the differing cultures and practices of individuals (Bernal, et.al., 2009). For professional psychologists multicultural competency recognizes the fact that culture is at the centre not the periphery of counseling interventions. Although mental health issues may be similar for various cultures, there are different types of helping responses for different cultures (Gallardo, Johnson, Parham, and Carter, 2009). For the Asian culture, it is often not common or even accepted for individuals to seek counseling or mental help because the stigma against mental illnesses is greater for this culture. Being mentally ill among Asians may sometimes bring shame upon the family, hence, suggesting counseling for Asians have to be approached with caution. As compared to the Western culture, seeking mental help has a wider acceptance. For many Asians, especially those who are migrants or who were raised in traditional cultures, professional psychologists may have difficulty implementing counseling and other mental health interventions. 2) Explain being aware of body language(see below) as personal limitations as a result of the “Quality and Culture Quiz” incorporate a,b,c, Awareness of body language as personal limitations may help counselors evaluate patient or client feelings, reactions, and behavior. Psychiatrists who are aware of body language are able to understand the clients more and interpret their client’s behavior accurately. Such interpretations may often contrast with what they are actually saying, but awareness of body language can be used as a form of non-verbal communication tool. A client may say he is happy about something, but in actuality he may be acting and looking very sad and angry. The body is a tool for communication, and one’s lips, hands, posture, and movement often communicate one’s feelings more accurately than one’s words (Management Sciences for Health, n.d). Facial expressions can help convey feelings and where words may sometimes be deceptive, on the other hand, gestures and body language reveals the truth of one’s feelings and intentions. Body language awareness makes mental health practitioners more observant and perceptive of their client’s actions and behavior because these observations can serve as the basis for corresponding reactions and interventions. 3) Quiz revealed (question #18) that the awareness of non-verbal is detrimental to effective treatment and communication a. Nonverbal body language. Although smiling is an expression of happiness in most cultures, it can also signify other emotions. Some Chinese, for example may smile when they are discussing something sad or uncomfortable. Being aware of the non-verbal language can be detrimental to effective treatment and communication especially where there may be different interpretations to certain behaviors and actions. Different interpretations may confuse other people and may even cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Although a smile may normally mean happiness, amusement, or pleasure, it may be a manifestation of shyness for the Chinese. Pointing a finger may be commonplace for many Americans, but it is considered rude for many Asians. Pointing with one’s lips may be rude for Americans, but it may be used by Venezuelans as a more polite alternative to pointing, a gesture which they believe to be rude. b. In Hong Kong, it is important not to blink one’s eyes conspicuously, as this may be seen as a sign of disrespect and boredom. Signs of disrespect for some cultures have to be richly noted (American Psychological Association, 2010). Having a different understanding of different types of actions may interfere with its actual and sometimes most obvious interpretation. For many counselors, knowing contrasting nonverbal meanings can interfere with the accurate evaluation of the client’s gestures and actions. In effect, the actual meanings of the gestures may be hidden by other interpretations of the gesture and in the end, may delay the fast and efficient evaluation of the patient’s body language (Sue, Capodilupo, and Holder, 2008). It is still however important to know the possible meanings for nonverbal actions, especially for different cultures because it would be possible to make the assessment of the client based on his history, race, and known culture (American Psychological Association, 2010). 4) Explain steps to address these limitations to become more ethically and multiculturally competent. In order to become more ethically and multiculturally competent, it is first important for professional psychologists to find out as much as they can about distinct cultures and the relevant differences in culture (Bernal, et.al., 2010). It is not necessary for psychologists to learn everything they can about a particular culture, but it is important for him to learn how people often behave, what they believe, how they perceive actions based on their cultures. Studying Asian culture specifically can be a good start because the differences with the Western culture are most apparent in the Asian culture. Elements related to family traditions, relationships, religion, education, mental health treatments and options, as well as appropriate social behavior for the Asian culture can be learned and understood by these professional psychologists (Bernal, et.al., 2010). Current differences in culture can also be learned, especially based on generation gaps – from the older to the younger crowds whose culture and beliefs may be different from each other. After being informed about essential multicultural data, the professional psychologists can engage in research, mostly evaluating and comparing information from different individuals coming from different cultures (Gallardo, et.al., 2009). Research can provide a basis for future actions and they can provide a more clinical basis for changes in practical applications and interventions (Gallardo, et.al., 2009). References American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx Bernal, G., Jimenez-Chafey, M. I., & Domenech-Rodrigues, M. M. (2009). Cultural adaptations of treatments: A resource for considering culture in evidence-based practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(4), 361–368. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database. Gallardo, M. E., Johnson, J., Parham, T. A., & Carter, J. A. (2009). Ethics and multiculturalism: Advancing cultural and clinical responsiveness. Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 40(5), 425-435. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database. Management Sciences for Health. (n.d.). The provider's guide to quality and culture: Quality and culture quiz. Retrieved June 1, 2011 from http://erc.msh.org/mainpage.cfm?file=3.0.htm&module=provider&language=English Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., & Holder, A. M. B. (2008). Racial microaggressions in the life experience of black Americans. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39(3), 329-336. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the PsycARTICLES database. Read More