Good Example Of Addictions Counseling Term Paper

Counseling patients using a perspective of their cultural beliefs, and the effect it can have on their treatment, is referred to as multicultural counseling. This form of counseling takes a therapeutic approach by considering ethnic and racial diversities. The practitioner also takes into account sexual orientation, ability, spirituality, economics and social class while counseling. Multicultural counseling helps in the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to function effectively in a society that is pluralistic. It also helps in the exploration of both negative and positive aspects of groups.
Practitioners have embraced multicultural counseling, and in so doing, they have discovered spirituality and religion as the core personal and cultural factors in an individual’s social framework. These two elements act as a frame of one’s beliefs, experiences, behaviors and values. Spirituality is a set of values that bring about inner wholeness, a sense of meaning and connection with others. Connection with others does not necessarily mean a connection with somebody, but a being beyond oneself. Counselors have realized that during counseling sessions where spirituality was brought up, clients were the initiators of the conversation. They have also been told by clients that the incorporation of spiritual talk in their sessions has been helpful in achieving their goals.
There are challenges that clinicians have to deal with, despite all the positivity related to spirituality in counseling. Although most clients prefer discussing spirituality during their sessions, there are those that prefer not to because of fear. Such clients are concerned with what the therapist may say or think of their beliefs. This affects their willingness to share their spiritual issues. The biggest challenge is the fear of incorporating spirituality and religion in counseling while having different views to those of the client, and hence not relating to them. Consequently, this topic warrants further research on why one's spirituality is a major discussion point when undergoing multicultural counseling.