Multicultural Awareness from Lambers Fisher

Module 1: Relevance & Research: Why Increase Cultural Competence

Why do you need cultural competence for therapeutic success? In module one, you will explore the implications behind cultural ignorance and identity development models. Key areas of focus include:

• Why should you increase cultural competence
• Non-optional professional expectations
• Cultural influences on assessments and treatment planning
• Developmental theories of multicultural competence and clinicians
• Overcoming limitations in the workplace associated to diversity training

Module 2: A Perspective on Diversity

Many clients feel oppressed or misunderstood, avoid counseling, or leave counseling early due to cultural misunderstandings. This module breaks down the changing statistics on ethnicity, age and sexuality. You’ll also get in-depth examples of micro-aggressions you should avoid. Topics include:

• Changing population and what this means for your practice
• Cultural genograms and common cultural considerations
• Cultural self-assessments for clinicians and how your results are affecting your clients
• Commonly misunderstood vocabulary: terms of reference, racism and stereotypes
• Acknowledging micro-aggressions to overcome them

Module 3: A Perspective on Multicultural Competence

Knowledge without the awareness of how to apply it into practice is essentially useless. In module 3, you’ll learn…

• What is multicultural competence and why does it matter
• A guiding perspective to cultural competence for clinicians
• Variations of healthy acculturation

Module 4: Clinical Strategies

Further building on your awareness and broadened scope of cultural competence, this section moves into practical strategies for implementing into your practice to use with your clients.

• Strategies to build relationships and connections
  • A client-centered approach to cultural competence
  • Addressing therapists’ fears
  • The pros and cons of cultural self-disclosure
  • DSM-5: assessment & diagnosis
  • Addressing micro-aggressions, transference and countertransference
  • Learning outside of therapy sessions
  • Therapist authority and learning from clients
  • Empathizing and navigating sensitive social issues

Module 5: Common Experiences & Non-Exhaustive Cultural Misunderstandings

Continuing with application strategies, module 5 describes some common misunderstandings and misconsiderations based on a variety of groups. You will also walk through…

• Common ethnic group characteristics
• Working with multi-ethnic families
• Working with limited English proficiency and bi/multilingual clients
• Cultural post-assessment to address what you can improve
• Addressing gender, age, religion, and more