CHAPTER 1

THE MULTICULTURAL JOURNEY TO CULTURAL

COMPETENCE

Emotional Roadblocks to the Path of Cultural Competence

Strong emotions such as:

anger, sadness, and defensiveness are displayed when discussing experiences of race, culture, gender, and other sociodemographic variables

Emotional Roadblocks to the Path of Cultural Competence

These feelings can enhance or negate a deeper understanding of the worldviews of culturally diverse clients

Disturbing feelings serve to protect us from having to examine our own prejudices and biases (Winter, 1977)

Multiculturalism deals with real human experiences and it would behoove the reader to understand his/her emotional reactions on the journey to cultural competence

Common Emotions

I FEEL GUILTY, “I could be doing more”

I FEEL ANGRY, “I don’t like to feel like I’m wrong”

I FEEL DEFENSIVE, “Why blame me, I do enough already”

Common Emotions

I FEEL TRUNED OFF, “I have other priorities in life”

I FEEL HELPLESS, “The problem is too big…what can I do?”

I FEEL AFRAID, “I am going to do something…I don’t know what will happen”

Implications for Clinical Practice

Do not allow your own emotional reactions negate the stories of the most disempowered in society

Try to acknowledge your inherited biases openly so that you can listen to your clients in a non-defensive way

Experiences with people of color will enhance one’s cultural competence

Explore yourself as a racial/cultural being Try to understand what your intense emotions mean for you

when they arise Do not squelch dissent or disagreements Take an active role in exploring yourself