Multicultural Counselling

Multicultural Counselling

Identify the presenting problem

Ara faced various problems while in United States. Firstly, she endured all form of suspicion, fear and hatred especially post 9/11. She was forced to overcome growing myth that interfered with her identity. The problem was faced by both Arabs and Muslims living in America. The problem is getting complex and evolving as time goes on.  Middle Eastern Americans like ARA faced all forms of suspicion and hatred because Arabs are considered to advocate for terrorist activities as they support justice for Palestinians. Maintaining her faith and practices such as wearing of hijab and going to mosque was a challenge for Ara. She feared being discriminated dues to stereotypes and misconceptions that the society hold about Middle Eastern Americans (Gallardo, Yeh, & Trimble, 2011).

In addition to problem of stereotypes and discrimination, Ara faced challenges in her relationship. She loves John despite the fact that her faith does not allow dating a person with different faith. She is not ready to convert to her boyfriend’s religion. Similarly, she feels that she is not a staunch Muslim because she is following the guidance of her religion. She is uncertain about the future of her relationship with John. She is very sure that her family will not allow her relationship with john. Similarly, she was not in good terms with her parents. They were upset with her actions such as removal of hijab.

The other problem is distorted beliefs and thought of the client. Ara has a belief that her relationship with John will not last. She also believes that her parents will not support her relationship. She believes that telling her mother about her relationship will create hatred and disapproval.

The Cognitive, Behavioral, Affective, And Environmental Components of Ara’s Presenting Problem

Cognitive components consist of beliefs and thoughts that a client has a particular situation or person. In our case, Ara has a belief or a thought that her relationship with John will not last for long. The thought is baseless because there is no concreate reason that their relationship will end. The thought is giving her distress.

Behavioral component involves how a client act in relation to a particular situation. Ara decided to stop wearing hijab in school in order to avoid stereotypes. She believes that going to school without hijab will make her blend in and people will not discriminate her any more. However, the act made her to quarrel with family members because it was against their tradition. As a result, she was upset and sad.

Affective components involve the feeling or emotion of client in regard to a particular situation. Ara is sad and upset because of keeping secret of her relationship with John. She anxious and sad about the discrimination she faced while in United States. She is sad and upset for not following the guidance of her religion. She is anxious about marrying John because she is not ready to revert from her religion. She is also anxious of the reaction of her parents when they will know about her relationship.

            Environment components that pose problem to Ara include political situation in Middle East and immigration. Unstable political situation in Afghanistan compelled the family of Ara to migrate to United States. The client faced identity problem while in United States because she wanted to avoid stereotypes and discrimination (Samari, 2016).

Three Possible Treatment Goals, Given Her Presenting Problem

Decision-Making

The first possible treatment goal of the counselling is to promote decision making. This will enable Ara to make critical decision regarding any action without the influence of others. The counselling will enable Ara to obtain substantial information as well as to clarify on any issue that may interfere with decision making. Through counselling, Ara will be able to understand her abilities and interest which will guide in make best decision.  Ara will also understand her attitude and emotions that will help her in making decision and choices. The goal of enabling individual to evaluate their choices will assist Ara in understanding the decision-making process. As a result, Ara will make independent decision and choices change (McNichols, Witt, & Neel, 2016).

Improve Relationship

Secondly, the other goal of treatment is to improve relationship. Improving the relationship between Ara and her loved ones is the other goal of counselling. Most of clients have wrong perception that can affect to poor relationship with others. Social difficulties can be observed in family and marital life. For instance, Arab is not in good terms with her family and John. Therefore, the goal of the treatment is to help Ara to improve her quality of life by developing interpersonal relationship.

Behavioral Change

Ultimately, the other goal of the treatment is to promote behavioral change. The goal of treatment to enable client to adopt behavior that will make her to be productive and happy in life. In our case, Ara should adopt behavior that will make her happy and be firm with her faith and tradition. The treatment will emphasize on positive behavior.

As a counselor, what theoretical approach and techniques/intervention would you use to assist Ara?

Behavioral Approach

According to the approach, environment influences the behavior of individual. Therefore, one responds to a particular situation based on the past learning of the situation. The approach state that behavior is reinforced by situation that happened in the past. According to the approach, a particular behavior is learnt. The assistance of counsellor is essential in unlearning the behavior. Professional can help in modifying unhealthy behavior. Unhealthy behavior is undesired response to situation in environment. This approach will also help the client to learn desirable behavior through observation of healthy behavior or response of others.

Cognitive Approach

The approach focusses on the present behavior of the client with a view to solve problems and distorted thinking pattern that was formed in the past. It also focusses on the thinking patterns of the client in order to change their feeling of a particular situation. The approach can also be used to effect health behavioral change by activating client in a particular environment or situation. Cognitive approach can be used to treat identity disorder and other clinical conditions to enhance coping skills during undesirable thinking (Blane, Williams, Morrison, Wilson, & Mercer, 2013). The approach can solve thinking patterns of Ara such as thought of fearing to be discriminated and thoughts of breaking up with John in future.

Justify Your Response with Culturally Appropriate Techniques for this Client

Firstly, I advise Ara to follow guidance of her tradition and faith. There is no concrete reason that compel the client to divert from the teachings of her faith. Ara is not ready to convert to any other religion. Cognitive therapy revealed that Ara is upset and sad any time she goes against the teaching of her religion. The client is going through all the problem due to pressure and urge to please other parties such as her boyfriend and classmates. For instance, Ara is forced to remove her hijab because she wants to please people and blend in, and to avoid any discrimination. She is not comfortable when identified as a Muslim not because she is dislike Islam, rather she wants to avoid stereotypes and discrimination. Muslims in America especially Arabs were subjected to discrimination especially post 9/11.

Secondly, I advise the client to use cognitive skills to evaluate her thoughts and beliefs. She should question her thoughts on why she keeps her relationship a secret. Additionally, she should evaluate her belief why her parents would not support her relationship. I advise her to bring John home to evaluate the decision of her parents. May be her parents will be very happy for her or maybe they will oppose it. In spite of making independent decision she should consider the advice and emotions of her parents.

Finally, I advise Ara to change perspective about stereotypes and discrimination that is directed of Arab Muslims. I recommend her to use cognitive and behavioral to reframe her thoughts. I will try to convince her that not all people will discriminate her for her religion and beliefs. Ignorant people are the ones who discriminate other on basis of religion. She is innocent and has nothing to do with terrorism. Skills such as diaphragmatic breathing will enable her to relax in situation that produce fear or anxiety.

References

Blane, D., Williams, C., Morrison, J., Wilson, A., & Mercer, S. (2013). Cognitive behavioural therapy: why primary care should have it all. Br J Gen Pract, 63(607), 103-104.

Gallardo, M. E., Yeh, C. J., & Trimble, J. E. (Eds.). (2011). Culturally adaptive counseling skills: Demonstrations of evidence-based practices. Sage Publications.

McNichols, C., Zinck, K., Witt, K. J., & Neel, J. (2016). Counselors as Agents of Change: Writing Behaviorally Stated Goals and Objectives. Vistas Online, Aca Knowledge Center. Article, 36, 1-12.

Samari, G. (2016). Islamophobia and public health in the United States. American journal of public health, 106(11), 1920-1925.