In the era of globalization, the world became very close with the easy communication and the need for cooperation between nations as well as individuals. Now is the time between cultures and people in order to know one another and to learn from different cultures. But interaction and learning from different cultures cannot be done without consideration to the local culture and its principles, beliefs and values. Furthermore, I strongly disagree with the topic we discuss which is teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is a waste of time.
Firstly, as a counselor, it is our responsible to learn about the attitudes and customs of the cultures from which our students come in order to understand the behavior patterns of the children and their parent particularly to the counselors who live in the country consist of diverse cultural and ethnic like Malaysia which have a lot of ethnics such as Malays, Chinese and Indians. Because of that, we must be aware of client’s negative positive emotional reactions toward other racial and ethnic group. Without understand how race, culture and ethnicity, it may affect the personality formation, vocational choices, help-seeking behavior and the appropriateness or inappropriateness of counseling approaches. It’s mean that, focus on equipping trainee counselors with the skills and competencies is not enough without know or touch about all this significant of cross-cultural counseling.
Secondly, besides understanding the client’s worldview, trainee counselors also need to learn about the cross-cultural counseling because it help the trainee in developing culturally appropriate intervention strategies and technique. It is important for their skills and to produce the good counselors among them. In developing this strategies and techniques, trainee must have a clear and explicit knowledge or understanding of the generic characteristics of counseling and therapy and how they will clash with the cultural values of various cultural groups. From learning cross-cultural counseling, trainee also knows the skills in educating diverse clients to the process of counseling in ways that make sense to them. All of this is the key to building trust and respect in the relationship between counselor and client. The ACA also call upon counselors to respect differences, according to the act (A.2.b), *counselors will actively attempt to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of the clients with whom they work. This includes, but is not limited to, learning how the counselor’s own cultural or ethic or racial identity impacts on her or his values and beliefs about the counseling process. It clearly show that teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is really needed to build respect between clients and counselor and it is absolutely not waste of time.
Thirdly, teaching cross-cultural to the trainee counselors also one of the primer knowledge in order to exist the one nation among community. The clear example is the mission of Malaysia which is “One Malaysia” which arise out by the prime minister with the purpose to nation all the races and ethnics in this country. It is related to the cross-cultural counseling because; it is one of the root technique or way to build the trust, respect and understanding between the societies. It also stated in the ACA’s nondiscrimination standard in ACA A.2.a; counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status and economic status. Therefore, many benefits will get from learning cross-cultural counseling and a lot of values have in learning this course.
On the other hand, some people may argue that teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is a waste of time. These people assert that cross-cultural counseling no need in order to produce a good counselor and it is waste of time. They may have a point to think like that. However, the important thing is the time is not the real problems but the best skills are come out by the great knowledge that a counselor have and one of the knowledge is cross-cultural counseling. So, if it is true that teaching this course to the trainee is waste of time, we had better to show to the trainee that learning cross-cultural are not unbeneficial but it is a big value and make them learn it not just for counseling skills but for their whole life.
In conclusion, cross-cultural is a major challenge of counseling to understand the complex role that cultural diversity plays in their work. Teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is a mean and makes them recognize or understand the sensitivity, cultural values, biases, strategies and techniques in implementing in their counseling skills soon. Besides, this course also concludes that counselors should have knowledge of the culture they work in as part of their expertise and competence. Therefore, there is no reason to abolish it.
Firstly, as a counselor, it is our responsible to learn about the attitudes and customs of the cultures from which our students come in order to understand the behavior patterns of the children and their parent particularly to the counselors who live in the country consist of diverse cultural and ethnic like Malaysia which have a lot of ethnics such as Malays, Chinese and Indians. Because of that, we must be aware of client’s negative positive emotional reactions toward other racial and ethnic group. Without understand how race, culture and ethnicity, it may affect the personality formation, vocational choices, help-seeking behavior and the appropriateness or inappropriateness of counseling approaches. It’s mean that, focus on equipping trainee counselors with the skills and competencies is not enough without know or touch about all this significant of cross-cultural counseling.
Secondly, besides understanding the client’s worldview, trainee counselors also need to learn about the cross-cultural counseling because it help the trainee in developing culturally appropriate intervention strategies and technique. It is important for their skills and to produce the good counselors among them. In developing this strategies and techniques, trainee must have a clear and explicit knowledge or understanding of the generic characteristics of counseling and therapy and how they will clash with the cultural values of various cultural groups. From learning cross-cultural counseling, trainee also knows the skills in educating diverse clients to the process of counseling in ways that make sense to them. All of this is the key to building trust and respect in the relationship between counselor and client. The ACA also call upon counselors to respect differences, according to the act (A.2.b), *counselors will actively attempt to understand the diverse cultural backgrounds of the clients with whom they work. This includes, but is not limited to, learning how the counselor’s own cultural or ethic or racial identity impacts on her or his values and beliefs about the counseling process. It clearly show that teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is really needed to build respect between clients and counselor and it is absolutely not waste of time.
Thirdly, teaching cross-cultural to the trainee counselors also one of the primer knowledge in order to exist the one nation among community. The clear example is the mission of Malaysia which is “One Malaysia” which arise out by the prime minister with the purpose to nation all the races and ethnics in this country. It is related to the cross-cultural counseling because; it is one of the root technique or way to build the trust, respect and understanding between the societies. It also stated in the ACA’s nondiscrimination standard in ACA A.2.a; counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status and economic status. Therefore, many benefits will get from learning cross-cultural counseling and a lot of values have in learning this course.
On the other hand, some people may argue that teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is a waste of time. These people assert that cross-cultural counseling no need in order to produce a good counselor and it is waste of time. They may have a point to think like that. However, the important thing is the time is not the real problems but the best skills are come out by the great knowledge that a counselor have and one of the knowledge is cross-cultural counseling. So, if it is true that teaching this course to the trainee is waste of time, we had better to show to the trainee that learning cross-cultural are not unbeneficial but it is a big value and make them learn it not just for counseling skills but for their whole life.
In conclusion, cross-cultural is a major challenge of counseling to understand the complex role that cultural diversity plays in their work. Teaching cross-cultural counseling to trainee counselors is a mean and makes them recognize or understand the sensitivity, cultural values, biases, strategies and techniques in implementing in their counseling skills soon. Besides, this course also concludes that counselors should have knowledge of the culture they work in as part of their expertise and competence. Therefore, there is no reason to abolish it.
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