There is no doubt counsellors have to be aware of the complications when it comes to culture (Pederson & Ivey 1993). Within a culture people develop patterns of behaviour that they have learnt. Cultural identity differences can be perceived between themselves and other groups and can also be based on personal preferences i.e. Language, religion, lifestyle, Birthplace or even life experiences. There is a danger that if counsellors minimise cultural differences they are likely to impose the larger multicultural groups similarities upon the smaller multicultural groups and uphold one group as being more important than the other.
It may be difficult for outsider negotiators to establish relationships of confidence and trust with members of these national cultures. Hofstede (1980) identified the United States, Scandinavia, and Singapore as having a higher tolerance for uncertainty. Members of these national cultures tend to value risk-taking, problem-solving, flat organizational structures, and tolerance for ambiguity. It may be easier for outsiders to establish trusting relationships with negotiating partners in these cultural contexts. The national culture of a member also differs in terms of the dimensions of individualism/collectivism.
Some of the challenges that arise when communicating with different cultures are difference in communication styles, attitudes towards conflict, decision-making styles, and approaches on tasks. It is important we accept each and everyone’s differences. Non-verbal communication may be more effective when dealing with different cultures and languages. Effective communication requires special attention and consideration from each party. When cultural barriers exist, one must rely on nonverbal communication to relay the correct message.
Mental health professionals practice active listening and encourage the client to express their feelings. Mental health counselors develop and implement treatment plans based on the client’s physical or mental condition. Client information is collected through interviews, observations or tests which guide counselors in the development of therapeutic information strategies that will help clients deal with their problems by targeting at-risk behaviors which promotes optimum mental and emotional well-being of the client (Erford, 2010). Over the past decade organizations have come to the realization that mental health professionals need to become competent in cross cultural interactions. Competent multicultural mental health professionals play a key role in success of mental health counseling interventions (Connerley & Pederson, 2005).
5. What strategies can you use to ensure that bias and discrimination is appropriately dealt with? Promote cultural sensitivity, encourage understanding and behaviours to maintain when needed for future references. 6. What communication issues need to be considered when working in a culturally diverse communication?
Therefore if/when their behaviour/reactions change or differ from the norm you will be able to notice straight away and explore what or whether there is a problem that needs addressing. Aiv: Explain why it is important to find out about an individual’s: A: Communication and language needs: It is important to remember that not everybody communicates in the same way and also you need to make sure you are able to communicate effectively with the individual’s you support in the best way for them. First you must recognise that each individual is unique; therefore there will be differences and influencing factors in the way each person communicates. Influencing factors that may affect the way an individual communicates are: Cultural differences Acknowledging and responding to the cultural aspects of an individual’s identity and care needs are likely to enhance communication. By finding out about a person’s cultural background will give you an insight as to the best way to communicate with them.
Stumbling blocks The essay, “Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks,” by LaRay M. Barna tells the story about communication barriers that occur between people who belong to different cultures. Barner has highlighted several barriers to intercultural communication in this article. First, that language is one of the main barriers to intercultural communication since people cannot communicate when they don't understand what the other person is saying. Second, nonverbal signs and symbols are also barrier to effective intercultural communication since different cultural groups interpret signs and symbols differently. Also, perception and stereotypes are barriers to effective communication since they lead to misunderstanding and hence avoidance.
Pippa McIntyre D/601/7630 Counselling in a Diverse Society Level 4 Tutor: Kay Rooke Word Count: 2,200 Unit Summary: In this unit, learners will explore the impact diverse culture and heritage can have on the client /counsellor therapeutic relationship in a multicultural society. They will also examine power issues within the counselling process. 1. Understand issues which affect counselling in a multi cultural society. 1.1.
To alleviate this, I created a viable vision statement describing the team’s objectives and how those objectives will lead to the end state. The vision included how the teams would behave and some team values. This step must be accomplished expeditiously to provide purpose and clarity to the task with the hope of motivating the team to contribute selflessly. Next, I conducted a thorough review of each team member history and culture to become aware of potential challenges as it relates to communication and cultural barriers. According to researcher, one of the leading causes of failure for multicultural teams is mistrust which can result from communication and cultural barriers.
Cultural relativism Denise Lewis ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (GSF1517D) Instructor: Fae Goodman Date Submitted The comprehension of a different culture practices tends to be difficult when only used in comparison to one’s own culture and practices. It may seem not normal for one’s own standards yet to those of the opposite cultures our own practices may not be considered as normal or logical to them as well. In order to be able to understand any culture, one must really know the meaning of cultural relativism. “Cultural relativism is the idea that the significance of an act is best understood by the standards of the actor’s own culture” (Crapo, 2013). Using this definition will lay the foundation of this paper.