Cultural Sensitivity in Counseling Native Americans

Three of the closely popular techniques in use by the focussing profession were examined in transactionhip to innate Ameri faecal matter cultivation and worldview, in order to determine the reasons for their ineffectiveness among these sight groups. The results indicate that a lack of thought and sensitivity to inherent American refinement and printing systems by advocators may be the major contri plainlying factors in the affliction of these methods to start out lasting throw. Three alter aboriginal methods were therefore investigated.Together, these examinations show that heathen sensitivity and an in-depth bring ining of tactile sensation systems and conventions ar critical in back up aborigine Americans furbish up from historical traumas and affect real transformation inwardly the ingrained American confederacy. Cultural Sensitivity in Counseling A Perspective on inhering Americans Why is it that some primaeval Americans bump to benefit from counse ling? Why is in that location such an enormous burn-out esteem among counselors who work with this plenty group?These questions be becoming increasingly to a great extent(prenominal)(prenominal) important in the counseling profession. on that point keep up been mevery studies on competencies and practices in multi ethnic counseling. wiz such work posture although dealing gener psychely(a)y with c beer counseling (Vespia, Fitzpatrick, Fouad, Kantamneni, & Chen, 2010), reinforced the necessity for training in maturation a counselors aptitude with diverse finiss. A nonher study which dealt proper(postnominal) every last(predicate)y with psych a nonher(prenominal)apy (Lambert, Smart, Campbell, Hawkins, Harmon, & Slade, 2006), echoes this sen fourth dimensionnt.However, the cause of ineffectiveness may not necessarily be the incompetence of counselors, exactly their tendency to use inappropriate methods which emit to consider the unique heathen heritage of inborn Americans. These culturally-insensitive methods can some times compel lymph nodes to violate basic some torsoal mensurates. For example, inwrought Americans place considerable emphasis on a disparageonious co-existence with nature. If a counselor advocates individualist responsibility for mastering the environment, he is, in fact, asking his primordial American knob to disregard a part of his lymph glands cultural intuitive feeling system.Take the case of Robert cherry Elk (not his real name), a blanched Mountain Apache, hired at a manufacturing aimt in Phoenix, Arizona. Roberts supervisor witnessed many instances where Roberts fellow employees asked to sh are his luncheon or complete their work assignments. Robert never refused and bequeathingly overworked himself (to the point of exhaustion) coat the tasks of others. Eventually, after several absences from work, Robert was referred to counseling by his supervisor.The counselor, after an initial assessment, enrolled Robert in assertiveness training. The counselor, however, failed to understand wholeness very important aspect of Robert Red Elks take account system inbred Americans are not individualistic. Their husbandry places great comfort on communion and service. There are over 500 federally recognized Indian tribes in the associate States. Each tribe has its witness beliefs, customs and traditions. Many Native Americans father left the reservation and know very miniature of their tribal culture, having assimilated into White society.There are, however, many common threads running through Native American culture and philosophy, which if misunderstood can open a bump between counselor and client that can be difficult to heal. For the purposes of this paper, we will be dealing primarily with Native Americans raised and residing in spite of appearance traditional Indian reservation communities. These individuals call for retained much of their cultural identity, as conflicting to those who urinate moved into the cities and have become westboundized into the White culture. or so every tribe has wide-spread mortalal and kind issues which are threatening lives and creating disjointed homes and broken slew. Compared with other racial and ethnic groups, Native Americans have much serious problems with mental health disorders (Olson & Wahab, 2006, p. 19-33). For example, on the Pine Ridge reserve of the Lakota Sioux, over 50% live below the poverty level. In 2007, the felo-de-se rate at that place was 3. 2 times that of Whites, between 50% and 90% were unemployed, and the death rate due o alcoholism was 7 times the national average (Diller, 2007). Counselors employ many methods in an attempt to armed service Native American clients heal from brokenness. This investigation will examine triad popular techniques foreswear linkup, cognitive therapy, and bearing modification. In addition, we will treat why these methods are failing with many Native Ame rican clients. First, however, there is a need to explore the average Native American value system.The Native American Value System Silence and Talking. Native Americans take that listening is the exceed way to learn. They understand that there are many voices to hear, not besides from other spate, but from the earth, the wind, the sky, and the animal kingdom. They listen not al nonpareil with their physical ears, but with their whole being in an military posture of watch, listen and then act (Nerburn, 2002). They believe it unwise to deal onwards completely formulating mavens thoughts. They understand the top executive of words, and so they speak carefully, choosing words judiciously.In most non- infixed cultures, interaction with others must be fill up with words and speaking that can sometimes become argumentative. Just the antagonist is true in most Native American cultures. When asked a question, there will normally be a pause before answering, because any question worthy of an answer is worth considering. When they finally do speak, it is judge that the hearer will listen. Interrupting is considered rude and a sign of ignorance. This practice of relieve has a tendency to disconcert somevirtuoso who is unfamiliar with it, and historically, Caucasians have viewed it as a sign of stupidity.Freedom and Honor Native American cultures value honor far above freedom. Honor is the internal guide for intimately everything they do. The concenter is more on what is mature, rather than what is wrong. This is wiz reason why Native Americans have a difficult time understanding the excogitation of sin. In addition, honor is something that cannot be taken away. If one loses his freedom, he lock away retains his honor. These views of freedom and honor are very different from those held by western plentys.In the White world, honor means paying homage to or admiring an individuals accomplishments. To the Native American, honor means knowing and doing what is right for oneself and for ones community. It has no relation to laws or the desire to repress punishment. Freedom only becomes important after one has been chained up, all literally or by the enactment of laws and differencerictions (Nerburn, 2002). All My Relations and racial discrimination According to the New Lakota Dictionary, Mitakuye oyasin translates to all my relatives in Lakota Sioux (Ullrich, 2008, p. 37). The notion of all my relations constitutes an understanding of and honor for the sacredness of each persons individual philiaual path. It acknowledges the sacredness of all flavor (human, animal, plant, etc. ) and creates an awareness that strengthens not only the individual, but the entire planet. It fundamentally means that everything is inter-related. In the living of daily life, all my relations means learning how to connect with certain constructive or creative forces, and disjunction from destructive forces (Portman & Garrett, 2006).Its the understa nding that any(prenominal) hurts one aspect of the world hurts everything else. Rolling Thunder, the late spiritual leader of the Cherokee and Shoshone tribes, said, Too many people dont know that when they harm the earth they harm themselves, nor do they realize that when they harm themselves they harm the earthWe say theres room for everyone, if we all share as brothers and sisters (Plowboy Interview, 1981). This belief in the brotherhood of the human race is one reason why Native Americans abhor racism. Another reason is their abject because of it. From the 1490s to the 1890s, Europeans and white Americans engaged in an unbroken string of genocide campaigns against the Native people of the Americas (BigFoot & Willmon-Hague, 2008, p. 54). A study on multi-faith panoramas in family therapy made beak of the following historical intercession of Native Americans In government and missionary programs to educate and acculturate Indians in delivererianity and Western ship canal, c hildren were forcibly taken from their families to embarkation schools and stripped of their cultural and spiritual heritage (Walsh, 2010, p. 3).Consequently, Native Americans view racism as evil and most avoid retaliation, because they believe it creates a mischief of honor. However, many American Indians lock retain an inherent mistrust of Whites (Bryant-Davis & Ocampo, 2006, p. 16). In a study on reservation violence, it was noted that traditionally one important factor regarding Native American philosophy was humility to those with whom one does not share beliefs and teaching nonviolent doingss (Hukill, 2006, p. 249). A reintegration with traditional beliefs and practices could helper stem the violence on reservations.Concept of Time Native people are not enslaved by a clock or calendar. Their ideal of time is related more to the seasons, nature, relationships, and life spans. Time is a cycles/second as, in the sacred hoop. Time is not measured in bilinear fashion, havin g a past, give way and future. Living each day as it comes is linked to the belief that one should focus more on being than becoming. This concept of time can explain why Native Americans might be late for counseling appointments by the hour or by days. tenderness to a rigid schedule is not traditionally an Indian practice.Things are done as they need doing. Time is flexible and geared to the drill at hand. Some other examples of this concept of time are * A right time and a right place, as opposed to do every minute count. * Today is a unspoilt day, as opposed to preparing for tomorrow. Other concepts that affect how Native Americans react to traditional counseling methods intromit striving for anonymity, discouraging aggressiveness (such as boasting and loud behavior), the value of inaction over action, and the use of tribal heal ceremonies. Understanding Native American healing practices requires helping professionals to have knowledge of the cultural belief systems that a re unique for each tribal nation (Portman & Garrett, 2006, p. 455). Culturally insensible Counseling Methods Counseling methods that fail to consider culturally-relevant issues are realizing few successes with native peoples. Three of the most prominent techniques fail to take into account the Native Americans holistic belief system and attempt to merely change behavior by changing ones thinking.Free Association. Free association is a spontaneous, logically unconstrained and undirected association of ideas, emotions and feelings in which words or images suggest other words or images in a non-logical chain reaction. The basic concept is for the client to ramify things out, and assign reasons to their feelings, with the intention of changing unhealthy ideas and emotions into a more gratifying way of living. Native American clients typically shy away from participating in this type of activity, because they chatter it as senseless babbling that accomplishes little and makes a pers on appear to have lost their estimation.They much like being silent and listening to lecture and babbling themselves into a logical state of mind. In addition, they are very cautious round sharing personal and family problems, and have difficulty communicating their reactions to situations. Cognitive Therapy Cognitive therapy aims to severalise and correct distorted thinking patterns that lead to feelings and behavior that are troublesome, self-defeating or self-destructive. The objective is to replace distorted thinking with a fit view that leads to more fulfilling and productive behavior.Due to the epidemic of depression, alcoholism and suicide among Native Americans, this is an admirable objective for counselors to attempt to achieve. However, for a people, who are holistically-minded, cognitive therapy considers only one facet of the whole person, and ignores the connection humans have with nature and the world. This blast disavows the unity of the person, a central core belief in Native American culture. To separate the mind from the be and spirit, and with the rest of creation, is an illogical and foreign concept to them.In addition, most Native Americans are pragmatic and tend to see life in concrete name rather than abstract ones. Therefore, counselors may consider working from a holistic, s surfaceness-based framework, so that union and balance can be restored (Rayle, Chee, & Sand, 2006, p. 72). Behavior Modification This approach is a treatment approach based on operant condition that seeks to extinguish or inhibit abnormal or maladaptive behavior by positive or negative reinforcement. As with cognitive therapy, behavior modification focuses entirely on one facet of the whole person.Native Americans are very resistant to this approach, because they do not always focus on their thinking. Historically, they have been exposed to the inconsistency of people thinking one way and behaving another way. According to Native American culture, behav ior reflects belief. Attempting to change behavior from the outside and failing to deal with internal issues is viewed as a waste of energy and considered unproductive. Typically, Native Americans respond better to holistic methods that take away the whole person body, mind and spirit.Culturally insensitive approaches to counseling can actually introduce a sense of mistrust into relationships between native clients and non-native counselors derailing attempts to help them overcome the issues that defeat them. This is one reason why Native Americans underutilize mainstream mental health resources (Parrish, 2006, p. 15). Culturally Supportive Approaches to Counseling As understanding and knowledge of cultural beliefs and practices grows, holistic approaches to counseling are becoming more prevalent in clinics and practices in which the majority of clients are Native American.There are several methods which are showing great promise in helping these clients. Inner Healing Prayer Becau se Native American culture is infused with the spiritual and encompasses a holistic view of the body, soul and spirit, the concept of listening, which is the invertebrate foot of this method, lends itself to a more culturally-relevant way of approaching the mental and emotional issues situate among indigenous peoples. Native cultures are already accustomed to listening because of their practice of being attentive to the sounds of nature and the practices of oral traditions passed down through the stories of tribal elders.They understand that listening is one of the best ways to learn. The upcountry healing prayer can offer Native Americans a way to re-establish concordance with their body, their emotions, and their spiritual selves (Rayle, Chee & Sand, 2006, p. 77), since it begins with addressing ones emotional hurts. It is counselor-led and client-consented prayer intervention with the specific intent of healing and breaking the chains of past traumas (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2 002, p. 240).When woundedness goes unresolved, it affects the whole person creating disharmony within the body, soul and spirit. Native American culture already understands this concept. The typical scenario is to give the client permission to experience what they feel, and allow their intragroup emotions to express themselves in a controlled, safe environment. Encouraging them to remember those bitter places and the trauma that occurred there helps bring emotions to the surface where they can be explored, felt, owned, and released from the captured place within the spirit.Once accomplished, the counselor can then ask the manufacturing business Jesus Great Mystery to minister His love and grace, revealing truth in whatever manner He chooses. The counselor then remains silent, encouraging the client to verbally express whatever is transpiring within them and articulate whatever truth the Lord is revealing to them. The counselors role is to grapple whether the client is receiving t ruth from the Lord (according to the revealed Word of God) or error manifested from within themselves, which would constitute feelings and/or thoughts that run contrary to scripture.Once it is determined that dependable truth has been received, the counselor then asks the client what is now different to the highest degree that traumatic event when they reconsider it. At this point, an entirely different perspective is usually revealed by the client. It is important when using this method, as it is with any technique, to cast Western counseling techniques with elements of the AI American Indian culture, beliefs, and philosophy (Rayle, Chee & Sand, 2006, p. 73-74) emphasis mine. It is well to remember, however, that many Native Americans do not believe in the white mans God. It is important, therefore, to use terms for deity that are culturally relevant, such as Great Mystery, Great tactual sensation, etc. This approach has shown great potential in overcoming issues such as depress ion and addiction. Spiritual Talking Talking quite a littles, storytelling and memory board/reflecting on life is very common in Native American culture. Many indigenous children receive their starting life lessons sitting at the feet of their elders as grandmothers and grandfathers recount tribal stories that teach the traditions of the tribe (Rybak & Decker-Fitts, 2009, p. 337).Since native people relate more to the now, it is very therapeutic to recall and embrace the corking things in ones present situation. Talking aloud about pleasant experiences helps clients see the frank in their present circumstances and allows their spirit to be as one with their body-mind uniting them with the world at large. This enables them to see the big picture and brings everything into a healthy perspective. The role of the counselor in this technique is to facilitate the talking and keep the client on track, succession providing a safe environment for them.Another form that spiritual talkin g may take is in the use of humor. Native cultures inherently understand the old cliche Laughter is the best medicate. Encouraging clients to share ludicrous stories and experiences can provide insight into the clients identity and self-image. However, counselors should cause caution in using humor. It should only be introduced when and if the client invites it, gist that the client trusts the counselor enough to connect on that level (Garrett, et al. , 2005, p. 202).The holistic medical specialty Wheel or Red Path One of the most effective healing techniques and one which incorporates extensively the Native American culture is the Medicine Wheel, sometimes called the Red Path or Red Road. The Medicine Wheel is a symbol of Native America in which quadruple colors (white, black, yellow and red) are used to represent the 4 directions and the four races of people (Caucasian, African, Asian and Indian), respectively. This symbol also represents the harmony and balance of the mind , body and spirit with nature.The Medicine Wheel is regarded as sacred among Native Americans, since medicine is a spiritual entity within their culture. The Medicine Wheel is recognized by all tribes and is a common symbol of unity. It represents healing, not only for oneself, but for the entire native community. This technique, when employed in the counseling setting, includes not only the counselor and client, but also family and friends. It can also be a good tool for use in group counseling where all participants share in a common issue. The facilitator/counselor invites all present to form a circle.The concept of the four directions and their meanings is then discussed. A good representation is * East represents the rising sun and the spirit or inner being of man (red). * South is connected to full daylight and represents a connection with nature (yellow). * North is the home of winter and represents the mind or thoughts (white). * West is where the sun sets and is connected w ith the body or physical being (black). (Molina, Monteiro-Leitner, Garrett & Gladding, 2005, p. 9). The counselor then explains the concept of circles within circles.Dallas Williards Model of the person is an excellent starting pattern for this concept (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002, p. 190). Molina, et al. explain this technique well An inner circle represents the connection to ones Spirit and to the great Spirit an outer circle represents the importance of relationships with family members and a community circle represents the importance of relationships with the greater community. At this point, volunteers sit behind each person in the inner circle, forming an outer circle.Finally, the remaining participants form a tertiary circle, which lends support to the inner and outer circles. Throughout the process, life stories emerge. Counselors identify client strengths and validate their experiences, and participants offer support to one another and create quick endings to their stor ies (p. 9). This method helps clients see how they create and remove the masks of the self (Molina, Monteiro-Leitner, Garrett & Gladding, 2005, p. 9). The removal of masks allows the client to be open with their true feelings and to see their issues from a different perspective.A doctoral dissertation by Mark Parrish (2008) offers another well-described view of the caboodle Within rafts Approach The elements of the circle within circles includes (1) the spirit within us including the culmination of each individuals experiences representing the power that comes from the very affectionateness of ones being (2) the family and/or clan, the relational center of the community (3) the natural environment and all of its relationships with living beings and (4) the spirit world which includes the other elements as well as the Creator, ancestors and other spirit helpers and guides.In essence, all life is interdependent and exists in a dynamic state of harmony and balance which maintains a continuous flow and cycling of energy which each living being contributes to the Circle of Life (p. 16). The Medicine Wheel and the Circle Within Circles serves as a reminder that all aspects of life are important and need to be balanced (Rybak & Decker-Fitts, 2009, p. 336). Although most individuals will still require more intensive therapy, the Medicine Wheel is a good starting point to help clients remember that they are not an island, but are connected to other individuals and to the world as a whole. in the flesh(predicate) Reflections Understanding Native American culture, and learning their views life has caused me to reconsider my own lifestyle and my Caucasian worldview. As westerners, we are an inherently individualistic society, whereas Native Americans are more collective. The mindset and complex belief systems of indigenous people are more similar to Gods original plan for mankind than that which White society has developed. Jesus prayed to the Father for unity that His followers would be one, as we are. (John 1711b, KJV). Native American culture appears to reverberate His prayer more than that of Caucasians. Native Americans are more in aura with their spiritual natures than we, and were the original holistic healers. They understand the concept of mans triune nature as set forth in 1 Thessalonians 523 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ emphasis mine.This concept has been a vital part of their culture for hundreds of years, whereas we are incisively now (within the past decade) becoming more sensitive to a holistic approach in counseling and medicine. It is very interesting that as one learns the culture and values of Native Americans, one begins to see that there are many aspects that reflect basic biblical principles. Western counseling methods, which have been imposed upon the Native Americans for many years, are ve ry foreign to a people who already understand an important truth of Gods Word.It makes much better sense to first understand their culture and beliefs and then adapt our methods and techniques accordingly, in order to be more effective facilitators in the healing process. Not only will these historically-wounded people be set free with true inner healing, but at the same time many may come into a full knowledge of and a relationship with the true Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus healed the screen man of his physical ailments before healing him of his spiritual malady.Therefore, if we connect with Native Americans through their ways of life, love them in Christ, and keep the Holy Spirit as the center of our ministry to them, many of these forgotten people can applaud a fullness of life that only comes through the healing power of Christ. As a Christian counselor, I will be pull to providing the Native American people with a biblically-sound, culturally-relevant approach to helping them he al the issues from which they suffer, both historically and personally.As I become more well-educated in their beliefs, traditions and worldview, I can foresee a time when what I am learning now will blend with that insight to produce techniques which will enable me to be a more effective counselor to the people to whom God has called me to minister. Conclusion To be effective counselors within the Native American community, it is not enough that we increase our knowledge of psychology and our skills in counseling.We need to immerse ourselves in the cultural issues pertinent to each individual client and the community which has shaped them. This comes by understanding belief systems and cultural contexts, and determining what methods can and cannot work based upon these parameters. Native American culture is centered on certain holistic viewpoints the wholeness of the individual (body, mind and spirit), the individuals interconnectedness with creation, and the relationship all peop le have with one another.Counseling such a people involves understanding and respecting values, beliefs and traditions, and accommodate our methods and techniques around restoring harmony and balance in ways which do not demand or manipulate Native Americans into ceasing to be Native American. One very good exercise for assisting in the schooling of counselor competency in this area is cultural auditing, which is a systematic and practical pondering method designed to address critical elements of the multicultural competency development process (Collins, Arthur & Wong-Wylie, 2010, p. 340-346).The 13 steps of this process lead counselors through the first to last counseling sessions by helping them reflect on cardinal issues of culture that can help them develop competent strategies and monitor their practices to stop up that the goals and processes of counseling are consistent with clients perspectives and needs (Collins, Arthur & Wong-Wylie, 2010, p. 341). In order for greater effectiveness to be realized in counseling Native Americans (and and then people of all cultures), mental health professionals and researchers must understand that all methods do not work with all people.Milton Erickson, one of psychotherapys most respected figures, who was of Native American descent, understood this very well (Thomason, 2009, p. 351). A 40-year study of multicultural counseling, completed in 2008 by Michael DAndrea and Elizabeth Foster Heckman, discovered many inconsistencies and out-dated methods being utilized with clients of diverse cultures, and called for researchers to detonate their outcome studies to examine the impact of other types of helping services among culturally different populations (DAndrea & Heckman, 2008, p. 62). Their final statement summarizes beautifully what is needed for effective, long-term proclamation for Native Americans We suggest that the multicultural counseling dejection is a movement of faith and apprehend faith in counselors ability to generate saucy understanding of mental health from a multicultural perspective and hope that future counseling and research endeavors will be implemented to more effectively promote human dignity and development through peoples collective diversity (DAndrea & Heckman, 2008, p. 362).The increase of diverse of cultures within the get together States makes it imperative (a) that therapists have the skills to work with a variety of clients from a throng of social backgrounds (Murphy, Park & Lonsdale, 2006, p. 310) and (b) for the counseling profession to take a proactive stance on cultural diversity (Phiri-Alleman & Allman, 2010, p. 157). Culturally competent counseling has been addressed by the American Counseling Association Code of ethics (ACA) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).Both of these groups stress the importance of social and cultural diversity in training programs for counselors, and emphasize the need f or culturally-relevant treatment planning, especially when working with Native Americans (Parrish, 2008, p. 17). The competency of multicultural counselors can best be developed by encouraging them to become knowledgeable in the beliefs, traditions and worldview of various cultures and utilize that knowledge to tailor their counseling techniques in ways that will boost the effectiveness of their practice.