Introduction
Due to the growing cultural diversity among counselors’ clientele, it becomes increasingly important to be aware of the peculiarities that might be associated with it. As such, the counseling profession strives to promote individual well-being regardless of any individual factors. In this context, the current paper elaborates on various communication concepts, including broaching, the respectful model, and nonverbal expression, to illustrate their importance to counselors’ professional practice.
Broaching
When it comes to broaching subjects of one’s racial, ethnic, or cultural origins, I registered that my perception of the question was slightly altered. Previously, I would behave in a color-blind manner when approaching people of color, inquiring about the mentioned subjects only once we established some degree of familiarity in our relationships. However, this approach cannot and should not be considered universal. Disregarding the impact of race on their life experiences devalues the latter and overlooks the distinct influence it has on them compared to white people (Bultsma, 2007). Therefore, I understood I should adjust my practice accordingly, not to prove myself as a culturally incompetent professional.
In this context, I can currently be considered incongruent, which places me in the middle of the comfort scale when it comes to broaching. According to Bultsma (2007), incongruency implies understanding the importance of cultural factors and being receptive to broaching them without possessing the appropriate skills. Therefore, I should strive to move up the scale to at least achieve congruency in broaching. I believe that reading relevant literature on cultural diversity in professional practice and learning the way people of color communicate their thoughts and perceive the world will provide me with the necessary skills.
RESPECTFUL Model Aspects
For the current discussion, I have chosen to focus on aspects of religious and spiritual identity, sexual identity, and ethnic and racial identity. Generally, the most respectful and competent response to all these aspects would be to hold my personal opinions in check and to attend to the client’s wants and needs without prejudice toward them (CPSY 8100, n.d.). In terms of religion, however, merely showing attention and respect may not be beneficial, as there is a high probability that religious beliefs will conflict with existing treatment and counseling options. Thus, it is necessary to establish professional boundaries, which include clarifying what can be discussed and what questions fall outside this scope.
Meanwhile, sexual identity might require a different approach, at least at the beginning of communication. According to Mark et al. (2019), for individuals with features that may be stigmatized in their surroundings, deciding to share those stigmatized features can be intimidating. For example, LGBT representatives have to rate other people’s acceptance, rejection, and neutrality while constantly evaluating the possible level of openness. Therefore, the necessary approach would be not to initiate the discussion on sexual identity but to show understanding and empathy when the client decides to reveal it.
Lastly, ethnic and racial identity serves as a sort of middle ground between the former two identity aspects. To properly navigate the issues of race and ethnicity, one should first address these subjects within the broader context of the client’s concerns. This does not imply outright defining them as the primary source of concern (Bultsma, 2007). That is, one should focus on a greater picture and discern one’s potential impact based on it.
A unique approach, phrasing, and wording are crucial in every case mentioned, due to the differences in communication styles that may impact the counseling session. According to Sue et al. (2022), without understanding cultural, age, and gender variations in communication, professionals may offer inaccurate evaluations, diagnoses, and assistance. They may also hold the belief that specific actions or speech patterns have a consistent interpretation that remains constant across all contexts, which is incorrect. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt counseling techniques to cater to the diverse needs and traits of a wide range of individuals.
It is essential to pay attention to kinesics—to the movements of the body. It comprises factors such as visible emotions, posture and body positions, physical movements, hand gestures, and the way one maintains eye contact (Sue et al., 2022). As Sue et al. (2022) note, it appears that the way people express themselves through kinesics is directly influenced by their culture, suggesting that the meaning of the mentioned factors may differ significantly. Unfortunately, I am not currently confident in my understanding of the various expressions used by others. I can only be sure of my own conduct and what I intend to communicate with kinesics.
As such, nonverbal communication may play a significantly greater role in distinguishing between high-context (HC) and low-context (LC) cultures. In an HC communication, the message’s interpretation hinges on both the circumstances and the recipient’s understanding. In turn, LC communication relies less on non-verbal signals and places greater emphasis on verbal expression (Sue et al., 2022). When it comes to deciding which type to prefer in practice, I would say it generally depends on the current client. However, in cases where establishing professional boundaries is crucial, such as when addressing religious identity, it may be more effective to initiate counseling transparently, as with LC, to prevent potential misunderstandings.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence presented above, it is clear how crucial individual clients’ peculiarities can be when it comes to counseling. If a counselor does not broach cultural identity aspects, clients might feel devalued and neglected. In this context, the RESPECTFUL Framework offers guidance on how to address diverse aspects of a person’s identity. Non-verbal communication plays a crucial role in this process, enabling professionals to accurately understand the client’s situation and provide the necessary assistance.
References
Bultsma, S. (2007). Broaching the subjects of race, ethnicity, and culture with students. Colleagues, 2(2), 11.
CPSY 8100. (n.d.). Respectful counseling: Multicultural counseling & psychology [Course handout].
Mark, K. M., McNamara, K. A., Gribble, R., Rhead, R., Sharp, M.-L., Stevelink, S. A., Schwartz, A., Castro, C., & Fear, N. T. (2019). The health and well-being of LGBTQ serving and ex- serving personnel: A narrative review. International Review of Psychiatry, 31(1), 75–94.
Sue, D.W., Sue, D., Neville, H.A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (9th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.