Cultural Competence

Introduction Awareness of cultural diversity and competence is necessary in the therapeutic process. It has become clear that there must be sensitivity to diversity issues and knowledge about various cultural groups who seek and need help (Barnett & Bivings, 2002). This specialized knowledge of various cultural backgrounds and beliefs has important implications for professional interactions and effective interventions (Barnett & Bivings, 2002). For example, for African Americans, intervention strategies include culturally specific approaches that consider their beliefs, values, and perspectives (Bailey et al., 2019). Many interventions for African Americans also consider factors such as racism, discrimination, prejudice, and prosecution (Bailey …show more content…
For example, given their unique socialization and environment, it is recommended that there are essential differences between African American children with disruptive behavior disorders and white American children with the same disorder, which often require tailored interventions (Bailey et al., 2019). Also, cultural awareness provides a better understanding of children and adolescents, which enables one to build a more involved relationship with children and adolescents (Barnett & Bivings, 2002)—for instance, being knowledgeable on children's interests, such as staples in their culture, such as soul food and jazz music (Bailey et al., 2019). Moreover, it is equally essential that professionals build cultural competence- the ability to understand and respect various cultures' beliefs, values, and perspectives with awareness of their own cultural beliefs, values, and perspectives (Barnett & Bivings, 2002). This enables professionals to accept various cultures and work toward removing any biases and prejudgments toward children and adolescents of a specific culture (Barnett & Bivings, …show more content…
Impact of Cultural Beliefs on Multicultural Counseling Cultural beliefs can impact the effectiveness of intervention strategies and treatments. First, cultural beliefs can affect how likely an individual will seek necessary treatments and their expectations about the effectiveness of treatments (Gopalkrishnan, 2018). For example, some African Americans view mental illness as a weakness (Connell et al., 2019). This stigma causes many African Americans to feel ashamed and not seek treatment (Connell et al., 2018). In fact, research shows that African Americans are more unlikely to seek treatment than white Americans (Connell et al., 2018). Lack of seeking treatment hinders the development of effective culturally sensitive treatment options for the African American community. Additionally, many African Americans underestimate the effects of atypical health conditions, often feeling that it is "just a part of life" (Connell et al., 2018, para. 4. The adage of the

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