Reference no: EM132276518

Hays, D. G., & Erford, B. T. (2018). Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A system Approach (3rd ed.). Upper Sandle River, NJ: Pearson.

Kamiran post-

Native Americans continue to suffer from substance abuse as well as high risk for suicide. They are a culture that continue to struggle with coping mechanisms and receiving necessary treatment as they are a private people.

Their family dynamics involves the importance in the roles of women, the family extending out to distant cousins, and children being raised by family members other than their mother and father. Regardless of the stereotype that is created by media in showing reservations with large gambling casinos the culture as a whole remains mostly impoverished (Garzon lecture A).

In 2014, an article reported that Native American youth began participating in substance abuse much earlier than other youth in America. Researchers actually found that as early as 8th grade youth began abusing alcohol, binge drinking, regular use of marijuana, as well as use of cocaine.

This is a concern because this is what is leading to a variety of social problems within this culture. Another concern is that the youth within this culture by the time they are adults they have been users for numerous years. This article/study recommended that there is an urgency for prevention programs within this culture (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014).

We learned that in order to provide sound counseling to a client that is Native American we must truly understand where they are from, such as what tribe are they associated with, as this determines a lot of their beliefs. It is also important to know that they are a spiritual people, and because they believe that everything has a purpose than it is important for us as counselors to be able to help them in identifying their culture.

I also found our text to be more helpful than the article because it provided ways in which to conduct a session; how to greet the client, avoiding too much eye contact, ensuring that time is given before beginning the session as the Native American culture appreciates nonverbal communication more than verbal communication, lastly not providing directives but offering suggestions as a way of help (Hays & Erford, 2018).

For myself, even though my ancestors are a part of the Miccosukee tribe, and I grew up learning to be spiritual and appreciate everything on and within the earth, I still lack the confidence if I was to counsel someone of the Native American culture. The reason for this is because my cultural worldview is a lot different from other cultures in what is considered respectful and disrespectful.

I would find it much harder to ensure that I am providing sound counseling but also ensuring that I am not doing something that is offensive to their culture such as making too much eye contact, when in my family I was taught to make eye contact as it was a sign of strength.

It is so important that we as counselors begin to see others through the eyes of God. Seeing the client through the eyes of God will allow us to not force the client to become a mirror image of our own worldview, but we will be like Jesus who was able to reach all people, regardless of culture, because he took the time to get to know them.

In Galatians 3:28 it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (KJV). For me Jesus helped others in a person-centered approach, and we as counselors should strive to do the same.

Hannah-

First, I feel that I should preface with something that was stated in the video presentation. The man speaking about his heritage stated that judging anyone simply by their outward appearance took away so much of what could be learned by examining their heart. I really liked that, for several reasons.

For one, I appreciated that he spoke openly about his experiences and shared them in a tender hearted way. Also, it immediately reminded me of 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV), which says "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Thus, living life by the advice he gave would line us up well with scripture.

My racial and ethnic background has not lead me to face much persecution. I am white, and had relatively little experience with recognizing any cases of discrimination towards others until I was probably in middle school. However, I do believe that, in some ways, made me more receptive of the plight of other groups, simply because I was old enough to recognize it.

Being able to notice that others were judged differently than I was due to an external difference is something that has always stuck with me. I will absolutely admit, though, that seeing others experience discrimination is no where near the same as actually being the one who faces it firsthand. If I were to foresee any future difficulties, I would say it would likely purely be due to my ignorance and lack of experience in dealing with such.

Native American culture often holds the belief that good health "results from having a harmonious relationship with nature," (Thomason, 1991). This is something that I do not believe is as present in other sects of western culture. Thomason (1991) also notes that "nature, being whole, cannot be separated into physical, mental, or social parts. Rather, all of life is seen as a spiritual process." Again, I do not believe that the rest of the American culture carries this belief as closely.

Within this article, the most staggering point to me was that there was almost 20% more Native American clients dropped out of counseling after their first session, than did any other group (Thomason, 1991). Thomason (1991) claimed that this likely was due to a differences in beliefs and expectations. Seeing this further enforced that in order to see therapeutic success, it is highly possible that I would need to make sure I familiarized myself more with cultural differences, in order to better understand how to move foreward.