Struggling with Multicultural Stressors

Multicultural Dynamics in Counseling
As a woman of color who provides counseling to people from all walks of life, several multicultural factors are always present in those counseling relationships— my race, my gender, my age, and recently, my ability. When I enter a therapeutic relationship, if I ignore the multicultural differences and dynamics present in it, I can do a disservice to my client and myself in the therapeutic relationship. The engagement with the client may be direct in addressing these areas of diversity or handled a little more indirectly. These are day-to-day life considerations, not just as a counselor but as an individual.

Dealing with Diversity In Society
The demographics of the U.S. have been changing for some time. Hays and McLeod (as cited in Hays & Erford, 2018) note that the typical U.S. citizen has changed tremendously since the 1970s. (see https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-u-s-population-by-race/).  An increase in diversity has resulted from such factors as aging trends, higher birth rates for some racial and ethnic minority groups, and immigration trends that have led to an increase in non-English-speaking individuals (U.S. Census Bureau, 2015a). As counselors serve this diverse population, they must consider what is necessary for them in this changing world.

In the field of counseling, the results of the changing face of the U.S. requires counselors to grow not only in multicultural competency but also in multicultural sensitivity and humility. In recent years, there have been some negative results played out in the news that have resulted in significant harm to people of color.

• violence against blacks: https://www.naccho.org/blog/articles/racially-driven-violence-against-black-americans-is-a-public-health-issue
• increased attacks on Asian-Americans: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/04/21/one-third-of-asian-americans-fear-threats-physical-attacks-and-most-say-violence-against-them-is-rising/ft_2021-04-20_asianamericans_01a/
• Discrimination against Latinos: https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2021/11/04/half-of-u-s-latinos-experienced-some-form-of-discrimination-during-the-first-year-of-the-pandemic/

Considering the harm to these people groups, there have been increases in mental health issues and an understandable level of distrust. Consequently, these individuals deal with depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health difficulties that can go untreated. In our society today, people who live with cultural and racial diversity can face any number of multicultural stressors. These multicultural stressors can result in people dealing with any number of struggles, which can include mental health struggles. 

What’s The Counselor to Do?
Given the changing demographics of the U.S., counselors must consider how to step into multicultural relationships in sensitive and helpful ways. Mental health issues will always be present in our society, from emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The CDC notes that these factors affect how people think, feel, and act.
(https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm#:~:text=Mental%20health%20includes%20our%20emotional,others%2C%20and%20make%20healthy%20choices.&text=Mental%20health%20is%20important%20at,childhood%20and%20adolescence%20through%20adulthood)

So, how can counselors begin to embrace the multicultural diversity of our clients and be providers who help deal with the multicultural stressors that clients of color face? 
Here are a few things to consider:

• Be aware of yourself and what your attitudes and beliefs are about different people groups – BE HONEST
• Demonstrate multicultural sensitivity by inquiring of clients about any multicultural stressors
• Take time to explore the level of distress the person is dealing with
• Don’t try to overidentify with the client’s experience - LISTEN carefully and intently
• Be careful not to minimize the experience of the client
• Be curious about ways that you can assist that are multiculturally sensitive

I believe that these are just a few steps to take to engage with clients who are ethnically and racially different and can provide an opportunity to give the individuals a place to be received and assisted in dealing with any mental health stressors they are facing because of multicultural stressors.

~ Dr. Vickey Maclin, Guest Writer & Psychology For All Clinician

References
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Ghosh, I. (2020, Dec). Visualizing the U.S. population by race. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-u-s-population-by-race/

Hays, D. G. & Erford, B.T. (2018). Developing multicultural counseling competence: A systems approach (3rd ed). Pearson Education, Inc.

​Noe-Bustamante, L., Gonzalez-Barrera, A., Edwards, K., Mora, L., & Lopez, M.H. (2021, Nov). Half of U.S. Latinos experienced some form of discrimination during the first year of the pandemic. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2021/11/04/half-of-u-s-latinos-experienced-some-form-of-discrimination-during-the-first-year-of-the-pandemic/

Spinner, T. (2020). Racially driven violence against Black Americans is a public health issue. https://www.naccho.org/blog/articles/racially-driven-violence-against-black-americans-is-a-public-health-issue