Cross-Cultural Counseling and The Family MCP Spring 2008

Transcription

1 Cross-Cultural Counseling and The Family MCP Spring 2008 Instructor: Taquelia Washington, ACSW/PPS Scheduled Class Time: Wednesdays 6:15-9:15pm Room 210 Main Contact Information: Our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?... Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -Marianne Williamson Course Overview: To a large extent, psychology and counseling theories have been structured to support the dominant value system that which stems from Eurocentric roots. In the different domains of our society, what has been kept invisible are the ways in which culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, and gender have impacted who we are as people. We have a tendency to over look these factors, in particular race/ethnicity, in fear that we might be broaching politically incorrect territory. In order to fully understand our own lives and the lives of our clients, it is crucial that we are able to bring the topic of cultural diversity to the forefront of our minds. This course aims to help you feel competent and comfortable when working with the vastness of diversity that exists in the United States. This course intends to bring issues of human diversity to the forefront, to incorporate social justice into our theories and life, and to offer a multidimensional perspective in which racial and cultural issues are not only highlighted but also appreciated and contextualized. To do this, you will be asked to look within yourselves and to learn about the different ways in which you have been impacted by the nature of race in contemporary society. We will be learning this not only by looking at contemporary issues but by also learning the historical causes of these current situations. You will be expected to challenge yourself to recognize the range of other contexts and multiple identities that influence your life and those of your client. Many of the issues that we will take up are generally ignored in conversations and it is hoped that we will learn from each other in these conversations that are difficult. While we will explore values and beliefs of many cultural groups, because of time constraints, we cannot discuss every group in the United States.

2 Course Objectives: 1. To help students in identifying and becoming reflective of their own ethnic identity, personal cultural values, assumptions and biases, and to look at the sources and influences of prejudices, and everyday instances of oppression and privilege. 2. To provide a safe environment where diverse students can discuss cross-cultural dynamics, and develop an awareness of how their own biases and how they may effect transference/counter-transference issues, as a therapist working crossculturally. 3. To increase students awareness of the complexities of culture-related issues in our social environment and how these issues such as: language, values, beliefs, spiritual and familial issues, immigration impact, acculturation and assimilation, marginalization and culture differences relate to counseling. 4. To prepare students for working comfortably in culturally sensitive and diverse settings, such as: clinics, schools, profit and non-profit organizations, and develop themselves as practitioners and agents of positive social change. 5. To provide exposure to multiple cultures and worldviews and enhance students awareness of and their appreciation of cultural differences. 6. To familiarize students with the historical, sociological, familial and societal influences in ethnic minority groups. Guidelines for discussion: Share Everyone s participation is encouraged. Please monitor your own participation level. If you are someone who often speaks up in class, be sure you are allowing opportunities for others to participate. If you are someone who is hesitant to speak up, use this opportunity to stretch yourself. It is ok to express emotions in this class but please do so with respect. Confidentiality Share the ideas of the course with your family, friends, and acquaintances, but personal statements and experiences shared by students should be treated with civility and should remain private. Mutual Respect Diverse perspectives are to be expected. When necessary we can agree to disagree and do so in a mutually respectful way. We are all works in progress. We need to listen to each other carefully and recognize that all of us are here to learn. Criticisms and insults are not acceptable. Approach each other s story respectfully rather than through assumptions and generalizations. Above all else, unconditionally accept yourself and others. Speak for your own experience When talking about difficult topics, it is easy to slip into a pattern of talking about what others think. Try to avoid that. Use I statements as much as possible. Take responsibility for your own learning ask for what you need. Passing Everyone has the right to pass.

3 Take Risks Risk taking is encouraged. The more risks we are willing to take the more room for growth you will have. Required Texts/reader: 1. Reader in Cross Cultural Counseling Course Requirements and assignments: A. Reflective Journal Writing (5 total) This assignment asks you to keep a journal entry to reflect on the materials in this course. There are a total of 5 journal entries due. Each entry is to be 2-3 pages in length and must be typed. This journal should be a free-write reflecting your journey of thought throughout this course (which can include how you look at yourself, values you embrace based on your work, critical emotional reactions to material, and changes you are making). Each journal is worth 20 points. See weekly schedule for exact due dates of journal entries. B. Class Participation (includes attendance) Due to the nature of this class, attendance and class participation is required. Class participation is worth a total of 100 points, with 50 of these points being based solely on attendance. For every class you miss, 10 points will be deducted, regardless of the reason. This will give you the flexibility to miss a small number of classes without having a big impact on your overall grade. Students who miss more than 3 or more classes will automatically receive a NP. C. Current Event Analysis To help understand the clinical implications of racial relations in our society, the current events assignment will ask students to choose an article from the media where the topic of race and/or culture is brought up. Based on your chosen article, you will be asked to provide a 1 page maximum critical analysis of the article s content. This critical analysis should include a brief summary of your article and any clinical implications that can be drawn from your article. Throughout this course you will have 2 current event analyses due. See weekly schedule for exact due dates. Each current event is worth 30 points toward your final grade. D. Final Exam The final exam will consist of clinical vignettes, with an emphasis on crosscultural counseling. You will be asked to respond to these vignettes as if you were the counselor assigned to the case. This assignment is meant to integrate all the things that you have learned during the course of the semester. You will be given

4 one week to complete your final exam. Final is worth a total of 100 Points toward your final grade. Please Note: Students are required to keep a copy of all assignments turned in and returned from the instructor for their own safeguard. Late Assignment Policy 10 points will be subtracted for every week that an assignment is late. Assignments must be turned in by the end of the day in which the class meets. All papers not turned in by this deadline are considered late. This policy will be strongly enforced. Absence Notification Policy If you need to miss a class, it is the student s responsibility to: A. Notify the instructor of the impending absences in advance. If prior notification is not possible, then the student should contact the instructor as soon after the class as possible. B. Make arrangements to obtain class notes and materials from a classmate. Make arrangements to hand in, on time, any assignments that are due. C. Make arrangements to view any missed videos. D. Come to the next class caught up on all readings and assignments. Schedule of Classes and Readings Assignments *Please note that all scheduled readings are listed under the date in which they should be completed*. January 23 rd First day of Class January 30 th Journal #1 Due A Nation of Immigrants: An overview of the Economic and Political Conditions of Selected Racial and Ethnic Groups The Multicultural Counseling Competencies The Multicultural Counseling Competencies: Developing Culturally Appropriate Intervention Strategies Unlearning Racism Understanding Race Understanding racism, prejudice, and white privilege

5 February 6 th Current Event Analysis #1 Due What does it mean to be White? White privilege, male privilege Racism and Invisibility Whiteness and ethnocentric monoculturalism: Making the invisible visible White Americans in a multicultural society: rethinking our role February 13 th Journal #2 Due The double binds of racism War of the worlds Racism and Projection of the Shadow What must you do to Combat Racism What must people of Color to do combat Racism February 20 th Journal #3 Due Heterosexual Dominance in the world of therapy Psychotherapy with Lesbians and Gay Men Lesbian Women of Color: Triple Jeopardy Multicultural Family Counseling and Therapy February 27 th Journal #4 Due Coming Together and Falling Apart Can You Feel Me Know Internalized Racism of the Clinician Working with whites and white ethnic clients Resolving other status: Identity development of biracial individuals Working with whites and white ethnic clients March 5 th Current Event Analysis #2 Due The inner heart: Southeast Asian Families Counseling Asian Americans Connectedness and Separateness The Question of Sexuality Identity for Chinese Americans

6 Asian-Pacific Islander Issues: Identity Integration and Pride March 12 th Journal #5 Due Counseling Hispanic Americans Family Organization Counseling Latino Gays and Latina Lesbians African American Families Racial Socialization Are you Black first or Are you Queer? March 19 th Circles and Cedar So she may walk in balance Native Gay and Lesbian Issues: The two-spirit people I ask you to listen to who I am Jewish Families: An Overview March 26 th No Class Spring Break April 2 nd Final Exam Due Arab Families Iranian Families Hindu, Christian, and Muslim Families (The above schedule may change depending on guest lecturers availability and unforeseen changes in instructor s schedule)