Introduction
In modern psychology, the problem of cross-cultural interactions within the framework of psychological counseling and psychotherapy is one of the most popular. Gundel et al. (2020) state that “attention to cultural factors in counseling is critical, and theories have emerged in counseling and psychology to describe competence for working with multicultural clients” (p. 19). The cultural approach introduces a number of changes to the system of psychological counseling. First of all, counselors need to be trained to develop an awareness of the existence and characteristics of cultural differences in understanding, communication, values, and lifestyles of people of different groups (Clauss-Ehlers et al., 2019). Thus, a culturally competent professional must be able to reflect on one’s own attitudes and expectations in relation to other cultural differences. They have to carefully consider the use of methods and techniques that are consistent with life experience, ethnocultural values, religious beliefs, as well as the client’s gender attitudes.
Discussion
The main focus of cultural competency in therapy lies in an attempt to comprehend the possibilities of therapist-client communication in relation to the peculiarities and contradictions of their lifeworlds. Unaddressed differences in value systems, ways of understanding, and communication models can manifest themselves in communication disorders. From there, conflicts of value orientations emerge, setting the barriers to understanding between professional and client in a counseling situation. Without multicultural competence, a professional cannot use a powerful source of resources connections, and belongings for personal growth. Thus, a cultural approach strives to address these issues and resolve them through specific training and competence growth.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps to go beyond the cultural context during counseling. It allows us to bring out the history of connections, belonging, and cultural identity, which is the most important component of adult subjectivity. Sperry and Sperry (2018) add that “evidence-based CBT techniques are specifically adapted to counseling including core-counseling concepts such as social justice, strengths, wellness, and diversity” (p. 5). It is safe to use with representatives of different cultures, environmentally friendly and reduces the risk of being “trapped” by cultural misunderstandings. Moreover, CBT allows one to take into account the holistic being of the client – not only individual characteristics and dispositions but also their past and present experiences of living in the community.
Conclusion
Analyzing the culturally specific approach in CBT, it is worth emphasizing that ideas about one’s own “I” are of a local nature. Therapists should rely on the local “I” and refer to the client’s cultural, family, ethnic heritage, national aesthetic ideals, and prevailing social environment when conducting CBT.
References
Clauss-Ehlers, C. S., Chiriboga, D. A., Hunter, S. J., Roysircar, G., & Tummala-Narra, P. (2019). Apa Multicultural Guidelines executive summary: Ecological approach to context, identity, and intersectionality.American Psychologist, 74(2), 232–244. Web.
Gundel, B. E., Bartholomew, T. T., & Scheel, M. J. (2020). Culture and care: An illustration of multicultural processes in a counseling dyad.Practice Innovations, 5(1), 19–31. Web.
Soto, J. A., Mena, J. A., Borge, M., Stoyer, M. R., Witherspoon, D. P., & Dawson-Andoh, N. A. (2021). Multicultural Competence Building Blocks: Multicultural Psychology courses promote multicultural knowledge and ethnic identity.Teaching of Psychology, 009862832110318. Web.
Sperry, J. J., & Sperry, L. (2018). Cognitive behavior therapy in counseling practice. Routledge.