Multiculturalism for Counselors
Multicultural is a sensitive issue to both the client and the counselor due to the fact that a client may feel judged according to his or her belief; therefore, therapists fear to touch on the topic when they conduct counseling (Hanna & Cardona, 2013). To tackle this issue, Christian counselors need to communicate with respect and accept the beliefs and points of view of others. Indeed, they ought to connect with clients in an intellectual manner especially when evaluating the strengths of the religious beliefs. The key to effectively work with clients from a different religion is to ensure that the counselor does not prejudge their beliefs negatively or being rigid. It is important not to assume that the counselor knows what the clients’ needs are but rather find out what the patient requires. In addition, it is of great significance to acquire the necessary information about the client’s belief that is important. In doing this, the counselor is at a position to reach out and discover the strengths in the client’s sacred beliefs.
Furthermore, it is important that a counselor balances certain principles so as to counsel a patient that engages in sinful behavior as a lifestyle. A sinful behavior can either be a facilitator or an inhibition to mental health depending on how the patient views the situation. A Christian counselor should, therefore, focus on enlightening the clients on the importance of religious faith and how faith connects humans to God. This way, they will be able to reach out and help them to change their evil deeds. Research further indicates that individuals who have meaning and purpose in their lives tend to be mentally fit and able to avoid sinful behavior (Hanna & Cardona, 2013). In most cases from research, sinful behavior stems from how people are raised as it significantly affect their adult life. In other cases, people tend to focus their energy on a particular aspect of their religion and use it to uphold their dysfunction. Given this, it is important for the Christian counselor to be keen on these aspects and react promptly so as to give the best advice that facilitates positive change in their clients.
Significantly also, counselors should not challenge the religious beliefs or moral values of clients. Christian counselors are supposed to walk with the clients through their problems and identify the cause and ways to overcome the life problems. Challenging their religious beliefs entails abandoning or convincing them to antagonize their faith or belief. On the aspect of moral values, the counselor should help the client to eliminate immoral values and practicing good values such as respect, forgiveness love and showing kindness. The aspect of putting client’s life challenges into a religious context enables clients to believe in faith. For instance, assisting the client to realize hope, forgiveness, and love enables the client to persevere through tough situation. It further ensures that they have faith to a better life helps the patient to reframe their situation.
To sum up, it is imperative that counselors assist the clients to search for sacred attributes rather than challenge their religious beliefs. The sacred is connected to spirituality because it is encountered through a person’s social or personal experience. For instance, if a client is born of the Jewish background, he or she will automatically learn the religious ways of the Jews. Challenging such religious beliefs that are inherent in the clients is difficult because every person wants to conserve his or her religion with the sacred (Hanna & Cardona, 2013). In another example, the Jewish believe that homosexuality is sin while some Americans believe that it is part of the 21st century lifestyle. Given this, a Jewish counselor may find it almost impossible to challenge the alterations of American beliefs which are deep rooted from the society.