Multicultural And Diversity Issues

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Multicultural Issues03d1-Diversity; Multicultural Issues Sabrina Cooper In the 1993 movie, Philadelphia, Tom Hanks stars as Andrew Beckett, a man with AIDS who is fired from his conservative law firm because of his condition. He hires a homophobic lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit. As Andrew’s lawyer, the attorneys’ homophobia should not inhibit his job performance because the law is very clear in what is legal and what is not. As Andrew Beckett’s clinician however, how one deals with homosexuality can prevent one from performing their job well. In dealing with the ethical issue of homosexuality, it is important for the therapist to examine their own values regarding homosexual or bisexual desire and behavior. Andrew Beckett was in a profession that was not openly accepting to his sexual orientation. As his therapist, it is this learner’s responsibility to educate herself about his lifestyle, and about his disease. This learner would have the advantage of personal experience to draw upon, because she was a caretaker to her uncle as he eventually succumbed to the AIDS disease. Through this experience, she witnessed firsthand how this disease cripples one physically and mentally. She could draw on this experience and utilize some of this knowledge in her therapy sessions with Andy. She could also use her knowledge about the medical aspects of AIDS to monitor Andy’s progress and help him to eliminate stressors that will make his condition worse. This learner would not have any concerns about this client or her ability to work with him effectively. According to Corey, Corey and Callanan (2011), negative personal reactions, limited empathy and lack of understanding are common characteristics in therapists who work with LGB clients (p.133). Drawing from personal experience will prevent this learner from having to spend time
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