Answer

Introduction

The world is shrinking, and the increased diversity various aspects of our society including profession requires more that ever increased knowledge on the challenges and opportunities provided by diversity. Mental professional such as psychologists provide services to a wide range of clients of different gender, cultural, ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. The widening diversity requires that professional in any given field appreciate the value of gaining knowledge on handing clients of different gender, race, cultures and any other dimension of diversity. This is because an individual’s gender, rituals, beliefs and habits have a bearing on an individual’s mental, physical, and psychological health. Thus mental health professional need ot be culturally competent to handle clients of different culture and have an awareness of personal generalizations about dimensions of diversity such as race, gender and culture, since we usually have a generalized expectations about people of certain culture, gender, ethnic or religious  background that may be nothing more but stereotypic. Diversity in its simplest form means differences in the human population such as sexuality, race, age, education, gender, culture, ethnicity, just to mention. Culture on the other hand refers to an individual’s beliefs and value system, traditions, and behaviors that are learned and shared among a certain member group. Increasing one’s own self awareness on approaches to dimensions of diversity such as gender, race, and culture is essential since these issues feature greatly in the consultation room with clients. Examining one’s own attitudes, beliefs, biases, and stereotypes is important in overcoming diversity challenges and dealing with clients or colleagues of a different background. This paper present summary responses of three psychologists interviewed, one male, one female and the other of profession of different cultural background. The paper also discusses the similarities and differences in their responses in regard to gender and diversity in their profession. Finally, my own self reflections of my stereotypes that I hold are also discussed herein. 

Summary response of male psychologist

Training and schooling

Mr. Xavier has Phd in psychology and this program focused on gender and diversity studies from where he acquired various concepts relating t gender and diversity. His degree program was psychology major from where gender studies was also one of the courses he undertook that also had gender concepts.  His schooling curriculum and training thus consisted specifically studies on gender classes, sexual orientation, and family unit roles. Other trainings that he has undergone relevant to gender and diversity include training on the promotion of gender at the work environment and incorporating cultural diversity in counseling.

Lessons Regarding Importance of Gender and Diversity Outside Training

The consultation room is rapidly getting diversified with clients from all walks of life, with different cultural, racial, and gender identities. One important lesson is that flexibility, sensitivity, and understanding of diversity issues is essential since improving the outcome and encouraging positive response from clients especially in repeat sessions. Some clients take offence by abruptly ending therapy sessions should they feel that either their gender, race, culture of other differential characteristic is undermined.

Considerations addressed in literature for therapists regarding race and gender

For Xavier, literature on race and gender placed these two alongside few others as the primary diversity dimensions that are of significant consideration in the therapy process. Race and gender are unalterable, yet very powerful in shaping mental health and outcomes depending on how a therapist considers and treat them. 

Strategies used to address cultural differences with their clients

Since therapists are required to provide quality services to clients from diverse cultural background, cultural competence is a prerequisite and one strategy in addressing this issue is being aware of one’s own cultural biases or stereotypes. Self reflection is therefore highly emphasized in the profession to enable one not just become familiar with one’s own world view, but also that of clients.

Gender and diversity considerations when working with clients

One of the most essential gender and diversity consideration when working with clients is to observe strict adherence to ethical practices, especially when dealing with a gender different from your own, so as not to make the client uncomfortable. Language used with clients should also be carefully considered so as not to be sexists or maybe appearing insensitive to the clients’ unique differences.

Ways of managing gender and diversity between self and clients

Managing gender and diversity differences between self and client requires that therapists identify their own gender and diversity concepts as well as that of the clients, and address the clients from the client’s perspective rather than from one’s own position. This minimizes chances of gender biases. Educating oneself regarding gender and diversity as much as possible is extremely valuable in successfully managing virtually all clients of different deferent gender, race and culture.

Summary second respondent, female mental health professional

Training and schooling

Mrs. Veronica (not her real name), pursued a master’s program in counseling psychology after completing a degree in social work, majoring in persons with disability studies. It is from these programs that she got exposed to gender and diversity course,  and training on gender role stereotypes, diversity and social justice training and women’s mental health and social concerns. 

Lessons Regarding Importance of Gender and Diversity Outside Training

For Mrs. Veronica, the most important lesson outside her training is that during her therapy session with clients, most of the clients seem to be cooperative to degree to which they feel that their gender is respected and diversity appreciated. Women clients especially open up to her more that the male clients, especially on matter though very personal.

Considerations addressed in literature for therapists regarding race and gender

Considerations addressed in literature require that therapist be culturally flexible especially in the age of multicultural therapy common in the society we live in. In this regard, therefore, therapy should be effectively adapted to the race and gender of the clients since clients of different races have different cultures and norms hence expectations and identities are just as varied. For efficiency, it is best where applicable that a different standard for therapy be adopted depending on its suitability, effectiveness, and appropriateness to a specific race and gender. 

Strategies used to address cultural differences with their clients

Developing cultural competency through education on various cultures and acquiring knowledge on client diversities is an effective way of overcoming any challenges posed by dealing with clients of a different culture. Recognizing cultural differences both in self and the client is also important in eliminating any potential barrier to effective therapy based on cultural differences issues.

Gender and diversity considerations when working with clients

Generally, most client and therapists alike are free with any gender, through considerations should be given where a client may prefer ether a therapist of a different or similar gender. Where such considerations are not made, a client might be uncomfortable in the therapy process. Social and economic considerations should also be considered since these may enhance meeting the therapy needs of clients with diverse backgrounds.

Ways of managing gender and diversity between self and clients

Upon identification of the cultural attitudes of self and the diversities present in the clients, using a simple language that is neutral especially to minority clients is important in improving therapy outcome. Respecting clients regardless of their diversity is also effective in managing gender and diversity differences between self and the client.

Summary third respondent, mental health professional African American Descent

Training and schooling

Peter (not his real name) has had several training concerning gender and diversity, specifically gender and sexual diversity therapy training, psychology and gender, diversity training in counseling psychology and improving therapy outcomes for minority culture groups.

Lessons Regarding Importance of Gender and Diversity Outside Training

Being professionally competent is completely different from being competent in addressing cultural diversity among clients of different culture from your own.  The ability to intervene among clients of different gender and divert is likely to be more successful once a therapist acquires knowledge on gender and diversity awareness, and combines the knowledge with sills on handling diversity in overcoming challenges associated with gender and diversity in the consultation rooms

Considerations addressed in literature for therapists regarding race and gender

Cultural skills are essential in all professions and especially for mental health therapists because as the consultation room gets diversified, so does the skill of a therapist for successful intervention. In multicultural settings, a therapists gains leverage on a client if effort is made in establishing effective rapport with multicultural clients, being aware about their differences, and respecting their beliefs and world views regardless of how they are different from ones own.

Strategies used to address cultural differences with their clients

Engaging in self reflection is a successful strategy in addressing clients with different cultural background than your own. The starting point of any effective strategy in addressing the needs of a multicultural and diverse client is the recognition one’s own personal world view, and acknowledging that clients too have their own set of beliefs and cultural programming that should be respected, appreciated and aways put into consideration.

Gender and diversity considerations when working with clients

It is important to consider the language used when counseling clients and keeping an open mind about their gender, cultural, racial and other differential characteristics. It should also be put into consideration that a clients ethnic, racial and gender identity plays a significant role in determining not just their behaviors, but also their repose to the whole therapy procedure.   

Ways of managing gender and diversity between self and clients

Since gender and issues can neither be ignored nor wished away, it is imperative for therapists to increase their cultural competences through appropriate trainings and education on gender and diversity, since this will increase their skill and capacity to handle any clients regardless of race culture, gender or creed. Self awareness, especially with regard to one’s own cultural experiences, prejudices and stereotypes should be identified and dealt with so that such biases are not brought into the consultation room when dealing with clients of different gender race, age culture or any other dimension of diversity.

Similarity in responses

What seemed common in all the responses is that gender and diversity is actually a big deal in the consultation room and failure to recognize gender, racial, cultural or any other differential characteristics among clients may negatively impact on therapy outcome. Importantly, what came out from the three interviewees is that professional competency alone is not sufficient for effective delivery in the therapy process, but rather, cultural competency is just as essential. Multicultural competency requirement among counseling psychologists has increased in the recent year because of increased client diversity. What seemed most important and helpful response is that a therapist’s personal worldview, beliefs, prejudices and stereotypes can influence a therapy session and thus recognizing such beliefs both in self and the client are essential for effective counseling session free from biases. Again, when it comes to gender differentials, the therapists are comfortable working with clients of all genders, but is is however sometimes prudent to put the client’s considerations should he or she has a specific gender preference that should attend to him or her. Effective tool for managing the gender and diversity among clients that was common among the three therapists was the need for self reflection and awareness, and making efforts to become culturally knowledgeable about diversity among clients. Failure to recognize diversity may be offensive to some clients and lead to poor therapy outcomes. Yet another important response that would be helpful for me is the fact that despite the increased client diversity and differentials among them, professionally and ethically, mental health professional are supposed to be effective in service delivery, and meet the client’s need to the letter despite the differences in gender, race, religion, age, culture or other socioeconomic and political background. Being sensitive bout client diversity, enables a therapist address client’s unique needs without facing obstacles that diversity my pose.

Differences in responses

While the response from the three therapists resonated great similarities there were small variations among their responses in regard to the issue of gender. For Victoria for example, when dealing with clients of different gender, ethical consideration seem to be more important in achieving effective therapy out come.  Further, she suggested that when dealing with multicultural clients, a different model or approach should be used for different clients based on their culture, race or gender. For the two gentlemen, however, when dealing with gender differentials among clients, the most important aspect is the recognition of the gender identities and taking precaution to use a language that bears no sexists notions, gender biases or other generalized assumptions. Further, the two gentlemen prefer the application of cultural competence and diversity skills as an effective way of dealing with clients from different cultural background. For Xavier, just recognizing one’s own cultural prejudices is not enough, but rather, a therapist should ensure that he or she also make effort to recognize the world view of the client and adjust accordingly.

Self Reflection

The most prevalent stereotypes that I have found myself holding towards other is that when it comes to clinical counseling, I have always assumed that women play a better role and are good at dealing with client compared to men. I have also been of the belief that Caucasians make better counselors than say African Americans. Mental health issues, as I have always held, are prevalent among whites than non whites because of their inability to endure even minor stress. I have also come to learn that people have others think that people of my cultural background are not so social and prefer keeping to themselves than sharing any information. I however manage these stereotypes by constantly reminding myself that my worldview is not everyone’s world view. I therefore make no prejudgment about individuals whether of a different culture, gender, race or otherwise based on what I have always known, but rather through the objective eye. Stereotypes others hold towards me have also been managed through providing my friends with truer explanations of what is and what seems for our culture. I have also found that I bear some stereotypes towards myself. For example, I believe that I cannot possible ever need a therapy session cause this is for individuals who may are either weak are not good at managing their life issues.  I also have this belief that as a young person it is embarrassing to have visit a therapist since this to me signals onset of mental problem. This makes me always try to ensure I am as composed as possible and make me feel instead of seeing a therapist, I would rather be one in future. Based on my looks, I have a feeling that when someone fist sees me, they may have the idea that I am not social and prefers little time for recreational activities. This is probably because they think people from  my culture are so engrossed in working with little or no time for other activities or leisure time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the world is shrinking and diversity are spread and increased even in the consultation room. There is there for an increased need for therapists to be both professionally and culturally competent to effectively address the needs of multicultural clients. Racial, gender and even cultural variations can be overcome effectively if a therapist doe not just do a self reflection do discover one’s own prejudices and stereotypes, but also make efforts to become culturally knowledgeable. Knowledge on different world views of clients enables a therapist appreciate, respect, and effectively handle diversity among his or her clients for better therapy outcome.