Article Review Ii
Article Review 2: Cultures and Worldviews
David Green
Clinton notes that “trying to be culturally blind or color-blind diminishes the importance of unique differences in the client’s personality and lifestyle.” In fact, it is considered unethical to treat every culture and ethnicity in a uniform fashion in counseling. Research now indicates that different approaches and techniques may need to be utilized for each culture.
I chose Native Americans as the population group that to answer the questions for this forum. Key to my decision is the fact that I have a good measure of Osage in me.
Some of the key psychological issues for the Native American population include substance abuse, post traumatic stress, violence, and suicide. According to Gone and Trimble, “fifty-four percent of Indian Health Services supported mental health programs and 84% of Indian Health Services supported substance abuse treatment programs are administered directly by the tribes.” When programs are not given by them, the program administrator has to answer to the tribal government.
Of note is that which more than likely contributes to their mental health issues, must include the facts that they are “poorer, less educated, less employed, and less healthy than virtually any other demographic in the United States.” Because they are poorer and less employed, they have less access to healthcare and this includes counseling or therapy. Many of them go to their traditional spiritual healers. According to Gone and Trimble, “there are eight traditional services that are ranked among the top nine most preferred options in terms of perceived effectiveness.”
There have been positive effects with the Coping with Depression curriculum, in that this program consisted of sixteen weeks of two-hour sessions based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. The American Indian Life Skills Development curriculum has shown to possibly reduce suicide in school age children. “A 10-week
David Green
Clinton notes that “trying to be culturally blind or color-blind diminishes the importance of unique differences in the client’s personality and lifestyle.” In fact, it is considered unethical to treat every culture and ethnicity in a uniform fashion in counseling. Research now indicates that different approaches and techniques may need to be utilized for each culture.
I chose Native Americans as the population group that to answer the questions for this forum. Key to my decision is the fact that I have a good measure of Osage in me.
Some of the key psychological issues for the Native American population include substance abuse, post traumatic stress, violence, and suicide. According to Gone and Trimble, “fifty-four percent of Indian Health Services supported mental health programs and 84% of Indian Health Services supported substance abuse treatment programs are administered directly by the tribes.” When programs are not given by them, the program administrator has to answer to the tribal government.
Of note is that which more than likely contributes to their mental health issues, must include the facts that they are “poorer, less educated, less employed, and less healthy than virtually any other demographic in the United States.” Because they are poorer and less employed, they have less access to healthcare and this includes counseling or therapy. Many of them go to their traditional spiritual healers. According to Gone and Trimble, “there are eight traditional services that are ranked among the top nine most preferred options in terms of perceived effectiveness.”
There have been positive effects with the Coping with Depression curriculum, in that this program consisted of sixteen weeks of two-hour sessions based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. The American Indian Life Skills Development curriculum has shown to possibly reduce suicide in school age children. “A 10-week
References: Clinton, Timothy, and George Ohlschlager. Competent Christian Counseling, Vol. 1. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2002.