Strategies and Techniques for Counselor Training Based on the Multicultural Counseling Competencies

The Relationship Between Vocational Rehabilitation Client Outcomes and Rehabilitation Counselor Multicultural Counseling Competencies

Multicultural issues in rehabilitation counseling continue to be a focus of practice and research because of the rapidly changing racial and ethnic profiles of persons with disabilities seeking services in the United States. This study investigated the relationship between vocational rehabilitation client outcomes and the rehabilitation counselor multicultural counseling competencies of 118 rehabilitation counselors working in a large midwestern vocational rehabilitation agency. The results of this study, which used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), suggest that the characteristics the client brings to the counseling relationship are the primary variables in explaining differences in client outcomes. Counselor multicultural competencies were not found to be significant in explaining differences in client outcomes. The findings of this study are discussed in relation to previous studies and implications for future research.

Training Counseling Psychologists as Social Justice Agents

Despite recent calls for counseling psychology to embrace social justice-oriented work, there has been little discussion about what such work actually looks like. The first part of this article derives a set of principles from feminist and multicultural counseling theories that counseling psychologists should consider as they engage in social justice work. These include (a) ongoing self-examination,(b) sharing power, (c) giving voice, (d) facilitating consciousness raising, (e) building on strengths, and(f) leaving clients the tools to work toward social change. The second part of the article describes a program designed to integrate social justice work into the core curriculum of the Boston College doctoral program. The authors discuss ways in which the above principles have shaped students; activities, and some of the ethical dilemmas that have emerged. Finally, the article under-scores professional obstacles that counseling psychologists doing social justice work are likely to face, and offers recommendations for overcoming them.

Multicultural Grand Rounds: Competency-Based Training Model for Clinical Psychology Graduate Students

Preparing students to enter the field of psychology as competent professionals requires that multicultural practices be infused into all areas of training. This article describes how the Grand Rounds model was adapted to a graduate clinical psychology training program to foster applied learning in multicultural competence. This extension of Grand Rounds as A? student-driven program to enhance multiculturalism may help others in doctoral psychology training programs develop experiential learning opportunities to further enhance professional competence.

Multicultural training in the United States: a survey of occupational therapy programs

ABSTRACT This study was designed to describe multicultural training practices in occupational therapy programs. A survey was sent to occupational therapy programs in the United States to gather information on multicultural content, skills, and teaching methods as well as diversity context and challenges. The response rate was 54%. The most frequently covered multicultural content was related to cultural background and sociopolitical factors. Multicultural skills covered most often were practice oriented and interpersonal skills. Teaching methods reported as used most often differed from the methods thought by the respondents to be most effective. Programs reported multiple challenges to multicultural training including lack of time and lack of diversity in the student body, faculty, and environment. Results suggest that educators may need to expand multicultural content and skills to prepare occupational therapy students for providing care in increasingly diverse practice settings. In addition, increased use of teaching methods that focus on exposure to diverse populations and reflection may be needed to improve the effectiveness of multicultural training in occupational therapy programs.

A Qualitative Investigation of Graduate-Student Changes Associated With Multicultural Counseling Courses

The critical incidents technique was used to gather information from graduate students about the changes they experienced connected to their participation in multicultural counseling courses. Trainees were also asked what course elements were linked to their personal changes. Racial and ethnic differences in response frequencies were analyzed. A diverse sample of 124 trainees from a variety of graduate programs participated in this Web-based qualitative survey. Trainees reported changes in terms of increased knowledge, increased self-understanding, attitude, and behavior and attributed these changes to didactic, interactive, and reflective activities, the influence of the instructor, and the course as a whole. The identified themes are illustrated through the use of the trainees' own words. Chi-square analyses found no differences between students of color and White students in types of changes reported or elements reported as catalysts for changes. The implications of these findings for the future of multicultural counseling training are discussed.