Culturally Sensitive and Responsive Counseling

When you begin work with couples and families, you likely will conclude after only a few cases that all couples and families are different in at least a few ways. Members of these couples and families individually belong to many different population subgroups, with each group exerting cultural influence. Based on conflict resolution traditions or power distance index of a certain culture, for instance, you may need to modify the theoretical approach you take with a client with that background.

Keep in mind that the classroom study of theory and intervention integration cannot provide a description of how to modify or tailor your theory to all the potential relational and cultural presentations you will see. It should, however, provide you with a solid foundation and a toolbox with which to work.

For this Discussion, select a cultural consideration (related to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) and think about how this consideration may impact the application of your theoretical orientation when working with couples and families. Then, reflect on how you might modify interventions in professional work in which this consideration is present.

By Day 4

Post a brief description of the cultural consideration you selected. Then, explain two challenges of applying your theoretical orientation to address this cultural consideration when working with couples and families. Explain how you might modify evidence-based interventions to be more culturally sensitive and responsive. Justify your response using evidence-based articles.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources.