Introduction
Cultural sensitivity significantly enhances the effectiveness of counseling interventions, as it facilitates a clear path for productive dialogue between a professional and their client. For this assignment, a fictional Black 65-year-old male with a lower-to-middle socioeconomic status will be used as an example. The selected specific stage of racial, ethnic, and cultural attitudes is self-depreciation. The proposed approach must rely on the encouragement strategy for introspection and acceptance of oneself as is.
Application of the R/CID Model to a Scenario
For a counselor working with a fictional character, it is required to conduct an in-depth discussion regarding the underlying causes of such behavior. The racial/cultural identity development (R/CID) model explains that this attitude can be provoked by a person’s need for conformity with the majority of the population (Sue et al., 2019). Thus, it is also expected that the dominant group will be viewed as appreciated, while their self-esteem may be harmed in the process due to feelings of inferiority.
For the proposed fictional African American male, this method requires exploring the views, standards, and cultural values of other communities. A professional must anticipate the questions of this person to connect them with beliefs that are associated with a positive self-image (Sue et al., 2019). Negative messages must be analyzed for their nature and impact to develop a strategy for eliminating them.
Mediation Strategies
Key mediation strategies that must be used during counseling for this client are the advocacy of social justice and the systems intervention. The first method entails revealing how the unequal distribution of power that the person supports leads to adverse outcomes for minorities (Sue et al., 2019). It may help them understand the impact of the current state of affairs on diverse communities, especially considering that an individual’s socioeconomic status may serve as a prime example of this effect.
The second strategy relies on a counselor’s ability to explore oppressive structures within society that contribute to their client’s development of feelings of inferiority (Sue et al., 2019). These approaches aim to foster a sense of belonging to a group and reduce the appeal of negative thought patterns. Through the R/CID’s steps, a specialist can track their intervention progress and adjust it on the fly to address any undesirable or unintended shifts.
Alternative Scenario
If a client in question is White at the naivete stage of the White Racial Identity Development (WRID) model, it will be essential to modify the treatment to accommodate ethnic and racial differences into the framework. Their perception of multiculturalism must be explored to consider the degree of their comprehension of Whiteness, as they are considered to be largely unaware of it at this stage (Sue et al., 2019). Flexible communication skills will be the focus of the intervention for such a case.
The collaborative assessment of stereotypical thinking is a practical approach that must be applied in this situation (Sue et al., 2019). It provides a specialist with a way to adjust their approach to diversity by indicating the most beneficial path forward. Thus, it will be possible to shift a person’s attitudes toward positive and inclusive conduct toward different cultures. I believe that the described stages align with my path of exploring my identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the R/CID model enables professionals in counseling to easily explain their clients’ behavior regarding identity crises through the stages of attitudes. For the proposed African-American male, it will be essential to find a way to create a feeling of belonging to a community without the need to exhibit a self-deprecatory demeanor. In turn, if a White person shows the signs of the naivete stage of WRID, they can be exposed to the benefits of multiculturalism and the negative consequences of racial and ethnic oppression.
Reference
Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (8th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.