Hispanic immigrant population refers to an ethnic group coming from various countries with native Spanish language and culture. According to Ennis et al. (2011), this segment of the population is identified as Spanish, Mexican (Mexican American), Chicano, Spanish (Spanish American), Hispanic, Hispano, Latino, and so forth. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI, 2018) reports that 44 % of all U.S. immigrants are of Hispanic origin. Hispanic immigrant society in the year of 2018 reached 19.8 million people, while the number of native-born Hispanic or Latino origin is about 40 million in the U.S. (MPI, 2018). Hence, the counselor must have clients from the Latino population; the advertency to cultural characteristics may help provide high-qualified help to the immigrants.
The counselor is obliged to be well-informed about the peculiarities of his clients. Resources that broaden the counselor’s horizons may include books, articles, and booklets. Flores-González (2018) introduces in-depth research of youth aged between fourteen and thirty, interviewed on their political and social membership, racism, and identifies issues that are serviceable to professionals working with younger generations. Martínez and Rhodes (2020) present their research on the health of the Hispanic population in the USA for healthcare providers, medical, and social workers. It is a comprehensive work on mental health issues and diseases, enlisting child health and substance use, insurance issues, discrimination role for health, and health advocacy. Mitchell’s (2018) Understanding Latino history is also designed to better understand Latin American and Spanish cultures. The counselor well-informed about peculiarities of culture can effectively help the clients with adaptation.
Newcomers from Spanish-speaking countries experience serious problems with inevitably painful adaption processes. Acculturation becomes aggravated by the fact that Hispanics are often underpaid or unemployed because of prejudice or discrimination (Sue & Sue, 2016). Some immigrants find support from their relatives as blood ties are important for any Latino and Hispanic community. The concept of family prevalence in individuals’ lives is called familismo, and it completely contradicts the American value of individualism (Martinez-Salazar, 2020). Moreover, Hispanic people do not tend to seek help from counselors and healthcare facilities in case of mental health issues, for their problems are considered minor from the community’s perspective. Thus, getting acquainted with a family structure is of primary importance before initiating therapy.
Counselors may need to help immigrant families resolve disagreements between generations and male-female conflicts. These are frequent in nonnative communities, as young people and women are more open to accepting new cultures (Flores-González, 2018). Sue and Sue (2016) advise understanding the social context of a conflict first and then resorting to negotiations focusing on family priority. It is crucial to educate clients that becoming bicultural does not mean losing their own culture, but enriching it (Martinez-Salazar, 2020). The importance of help with naturalization is proven by the fact that unsuccessful acculturation may be the reason for the immigrants’ mental health issues.
Hispanic people face numerous challenges as they leave their country of origin. The lack of language comprehension, prejudice to immigrant groups, and harmful stereotypes can result in depression, low self-esteem, behavior problems, and substance abuse (Martínez & Rhodes, 2020). Allen and Cummings (2016) found a correlation between the low level of acculturation, ethnic discrimination, fear of anti-immigration laws, socioeconomic challenges, and rare medical care use. The intense feeling of belonging to Hispanic society and self-identifying as a member of it, in contrast to denying one’s ethnic origin, diminishes mental health problems (Martinez-Salazar, 2020). Occasionally, complex therapy for an individual and family is necessary.
When assessing information about a client before the therapy, Cultural Formation Interview (CFI) aimed at determining the client’s cultural identity can be utilized. The process and importance of the procedure are carefully delineated by Díaz et al. (2017). This individualized interviewhelpsavoidi t stereotypicalvisionoffethnicityand contributes to building a trusting relationship, a,s at times, the counselor is ignorant about their client’s beliefs and fears. The next step, as Paniagua (2014) proposes, may include problem-solving approaches involving other family members in therapy. Underlining the client’s strength and will to overcome problems is beneficial (Paniagua, 2014). It is vital to discuss spiritual issues stemming from religious beliefs (Martínez and Rhodes, 2020). If the client’s belief in the evil eye or bad spirits is ignored it may be an obstacle to communication.
As stated above, Hispanic or Latino immigrants fear being alienated from the society they are trying to adjust to. Therefore, it would be helpful to involve Spanish-speaking people in social projects where they can get employed and show their contribution. For instance, an organization may engage Hispanics into giving Spanish language courses or Latinos may create social dance classes for members of their society or non-Hispanic residents. Bilingual volunteers and accommodation are the only things that are needed. Referring to all the aspects of work with the Hispanic immigrant population, American society is welcome to participate in projects helping immigrants acculturate and enrich the local culture. It is hard to understand what people feel in a new hostile environment, how at a loss, and miserable they feel. Local communities can help them if they show only modest sympathy. Thus, local Americans will get acquainted with the culture intimately, and immigrants will find a part-time occupation or hobby, feeling useful this way. Spanish-speaking society values a sense of community the most, so everyone can try and do all in their power to give them this sense.
References
Allen, L., & Cummings, J. (2016). Emergency department use among Hispanic adults. Medical Care, 54(5), 449–456.
Díaz, E., Añez, L. M., Silva, M., Paris, M., & Davidson, L. (2017). Using the cultural formulation interview to build culturally sensitive services. Psychiatric Services, 68(2), 112–114.
Ennis, S., Ríos-Vargas, M., & Albert, N. (2011). The Hispanic population: 2010. Census briefs. U.S. Census Bureau.
Flores-González, N. (2018). Citizens but Not Americans: Race and belonging among Latino millennials. New York University Press.
Martínez, A. D., & Rhodes, S. D. (Eds.). (2020). New and emerging issues in Latinx health (1st ed.). Springer.
Martinez-Salazar, B. (2020). Mexican American adolescents’ acculturation and assimilation: Integrative counseling group to support mental health (Publication No. 27995330) [Master’s thesis, Saint Mary’s College of California]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Migration Policy Institute. (2018). Frequently requested statistics on immigrants and immigration in the United States. Web.
Mitchell, P. (2018). Understanding Latino history: Excavating the past, examining the present. Greenwood.
Paniagua, F. A. (2014). Assessing and treating culturally diverse clients: A practical guide. Sage Publications.
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Wiley.