Review all of the required materials under Learning Resources. Review directions for the weeks Assignment as well as for the entire module.

Part of your aspirational journey to continuing to expand upon your understanding of cultural competence and humility is to immerse yourself in a culturally diverse experience, event, and/or ceremony. Immersion provides us with the ability to step outside of our comfort zone and become fully present and engaged with those who are unlike ourselves.

Directions for Assignment:

For the Cultural Immersion Experience Assignment, you are required to engage in a culturally diverse experience, event, and/or ceremony for at least 90 minutes related to the following topics: poverty, gender, sexual/affectional orientation, race/ethnicity, spirituality/religion, advocacy, and/or social justice. You will have the option to attend an event (i.e., a religious ceremony, volunteering at a shelter or soup kitchen). If you are unable to find an experience, event, and/or ceremony, reach out to your Instructor by Week 5 for assistance with other options.

This activity is geared toward getting you out of your comfort zone and encouraging you to engage in something different and new that may open your eyes to a cultural experience, ceremony, or event that may help you become a more sensitive and culturally aware counselor. Additionally, consider how this experience inspires you to consider advocating for social justice.

Events cannot be based on personal group engagement/involvement or personal family or connection. After you attend the cultural immersion event, you will write a 4- to 6-page scholarly paper.

Papers also must include a minimum of four (4) scholarly research articles to illustrate points. Additional resources are welcome but do not count towards your minimum of four scholarly articles. Two of your resources may come from the Learning Resources provided in the class but at least two must be found independently from the Walden Library.

All papers must be written according to the American Psychological Associations (APA) Publication Manual (i.e., proper title page, 12-font, double spaced, page numbers, headings, conclusion section, properly formatted Reference page, date, and time the event took place, etc.).   

Write a paper that contains the following using in-depth, self-reflective responses:

• Description of the experience, event, ceremony, etc.
• Why did you choose this experience? How has this experience impacted you emotionally?
• Describe at least two ways in which this experience has impacted your ability to encompass cultural competence in counseling.
• Describe at least two ways in which this experience has impacted your ability to encompass cultural humility professionally.
• Discuss at least two ways in how this experience changed your worldview related to oppression, discrimination, power, or privilege.
• Discuss how you could infuse social justice advocacy in your work as a counselor, based on your cultural immersion experience. Consider advocacy based on the environment you plan to work in (i.e., community mental health, school, private practice, etc.). For example, if you chose to attend a LGBTQ+ Pride Festival and you are a school counselor, you might consider starting a Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) or a Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) at the school you work for. Or, if you chose to volunteer at a homeless shelter and are a mental health counselor, you might consider advocating for low-income housing.