Chapter 8 - Ivonne M.

A Values-Based, Multicultural Approach to Career Counseling and Advocacy

In the Career Information, Career counseling, and Career Development text book by Duane Brown; chapter 8 introduces the 8 steps of the value based multicultural career counseling system and how to implement them.

Step one is about how to assess cultural variables. As a counselor if you are culturally sensitive it is good to disclose your dilemma to your client. That way your dilemma is not over powering your client and your ability to help. As a counselor learning about your client’s culture should be made a priority in order for you to know appropriateness and how to go about leading certain counseling sessions. The first career counseling should focus on cultural affiliation of the client; for example language spoken at home, customs and traditions observed, cultural affiliation of friends, cultural affiliation of parents, and the community in which the client lives (Brown, D., 2016).

Step two is communication style and establishing the relationship. It is important for counselors to not make assumptions regarding culture, because poor cultural communication may case unwanted results. Counseling techniques that reflect feelings, probing questions, and questions that ask for personal disclosure are considered inappropriate and a high level of concern about self-control. It is helpful to have a table that has major cultural groups listed and their verbal styles, in order to help counselors facilitate their meetings (Brown, D., 2016).

Step 3 is selecting a decision-making model. When deciding on a career model it is important to keep in mind that “single road” models tend to give clients only one option, that is seen a the “right” option. Clients and counselors together should be planning and moving forward into positive uncertainty. The first step is to always determine who will make the first step, then determine the decision maker’s expectations as well as the counselor’s expectations (Brown, D., 2016).

Step 4 is the identification of career issues (assessment). If a client is struggling to meet their basic needs then the first step of counseling would be for counselors to engage in short term help, in order to identify immediate sources for clients; this is called crisis career counseling. There is a pattern identification assessment that begins asking the client to focus on one activity, and to talk about times that activity was enjoyable and when it was not. Then they are asked to discuss in detail negative and positive experiences, the people involved, and factors. This should help arise themes and can be used as a basis for action (Brown, D., 2016).

Steps 5 and 6 are the establishment of culturally appropriate goals and the selection of culturally appropriate interventions. Culturally appropriate goals are set by the individual. The career counselors become the translator of social values, mediator, and peacemaker amongst families. Many problems may arise due to sex-typing and self-limiting stereotypes. Depending on culture some goals may need to be adjusted so that they can seem as culturally acceptable (Brown, D., 2016).

Step 7 is the implementation and evaluation of the interventions used. Implementing would be for the client to carry out strategies that have been identified to achieve their goals. Career counselors need to be teaching clients the skills needed to take personal and contextual information gained in the assessment process, and apply it to a new career or lifestyle. Follow ups and evaluations should be focused on the client’s satisfaction and the quality of the counselors work (Brown, D., 2016).

Step 8 is advocacy. Advocacy it to correct any problems that influence the entry of jobs by limiting or marginalizing people in society. There are many forms of advocacy which can include teaching clients to self-advocate, advocating for transitional programs and advocating directly with an organization or agency (Brown, D., 2016).

Reference

Brown, D. (2016). Career information, career counseling, and career development (11^thed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN 978-0-13-391777-2.