Cultural Competence Training
To help in the integration of the Centers, the staff could be trained in Cultural
Competence in an ongoing effort supported by Davis Aging Services and the Utah State Aging Services. This would include
1. helping staff look into their own culture and how it affects their lives
2. helping staff consider their own attitudes and beliefs about:
a. race
b. culture
c. ethnicity
d. gender
e. sexual orientation, etc
3. provide information concerning the culture of specific groups that the staff is likely to deal with
at the Center. (Corey, et al., 2003, p.136)
One interesting area of cultural competency is learning about the differing body
languages used. Some of these include differences in eye contact, personal space, rate of speech, and meanings of hand gestures.
White-Kress, Eriksen, Rayle, and Ford (2005) state that, when working with diverse populations, “we encourage counselors to conduct a thorough assessment of their client’s cultural realities.”
Furthermore, they state that “counselors need to carefully consider all aspects of client’s culture in conjunction
with the client’s past and present life to avoid misdiagnosis or the use of unnecessary diagnosis” (p. 103). Corey, et al., (2003) also agrees to these concepts and gives an example of Japanese
Americans being diagnosed as “Avoidant Personalities” simply because the client was too silent as they were being
respectful to the authority figure (p. 371). Some groups, such as Native American Indians, do not look an authoritarian figure
in the eyes, but look towards their feet as a gesture of respect.
Referrals
to Licensed Therapists
Staff members are not licensed therapists. However, they should have ready access to information allowing them to give
a client a method to contact those who are in a position to counsel them. The information that could be provided should include
not only the names, addresses, and phone numbers of several local therapists, but also some general information on:
1. Any resources
that could be available through the Senior
Citizen Centers or through the Davis County or Utah
State
Aging Services.
2. Resources to pay for counseling, including any Medicare or Medicaid or supplemental insurance coverage that might be applicable.
Since many older people have not gone to a therapist and may feel that it is morally weak to do so, the staff member
can help the client overcome fear by giving information that will help the client to know what to expect in the first visit.
The most important area is the informed consent, which should be given to the client both verbally and in writing, if they
do enter into a therapeutic relationship. It should include at least all of the following:
a. Their relationship will be voluntary and can be stopped at any time without penalty.
b.
They will need to be involved for the counseling to be
effective.
c.
They can expect the counselor to provide information on
how they can be reached after office hours.
d.
There are not guarantees that therapy will help them.
e.
There may be some risks associated with therapy.
f.
They can expect confidentiality in their communications
with the therapist however, there may be special
circumstances in which it may need to be broken.
g.
That there are differing types of counseling, and that this
particular therapist will use which type.
h.
That records, both counseling and financial, will be kept
and protected.
i.
That the counselor follows a given set of published Ethical
Guidelines.
j.
That the therapist is both licensed and credentialed in the
area that they may need help resolving. What affiliations
they may have are also important.
k.
The fees, charges, insurance reimbursements, if any,
and the client’s responsibility of payment must be
addressed.
l.
What to do in the case of canceling an appointment or
handling disputes or complaints concerning the therapist.
m. That
the counselor may privately discuss their case with
other colleagues or with supervisory personnel to assure
quality.
(Corey, et al., 2003, pp. 154- 155)
