1. Strategies for the Culturally Competent Counsellor/Caseworker
Prepared for Jansen Newman Institute
Melinda Austen 2008 person2person
1
1.Worker Self Awareness
 We are all a product of cultural conditioning.
 It is most important to develop awareness of yourself. Identify your own values,
biases, stereotypes and assumptions i.e. your worldview.
 What is your world view? Your philosophy of life, the way you make meaning of
the world, the way your attitudes and values influence how you think and behave
and define life events.
 Develop comfort with difference between yourself and the client. Be aware of
‘colour blindness’ i.e. treating all people the same. This denies a client’s
experience of inequality
 Make a commitment to work in a non oppressive and non exploitative way. Don’t
deny that Anglo- Australians may have directly or indirectly benefited from
cultural biases.
 Recognise your limitations in cross cultural work and be prepared to refer if
required. But don’t use this as a way out.
2. Understanding Worldview of Culturally Diverse Clients
 By recognising your own cultural self you are more able to develop an
acceptance and respect for other cultures and, recognise the legitimate
worldview of others.
 Acknowledge that there is diversity within cultural and ethnic groups and, not
one way of seeing the world. Don’t assume similarities just because you may
have the same cultural background as your client.
 Actively and consciously avoid assumptions and stereotypes of cultures (both
positive and negative). The relationship that is developed between
counsellor/caseworker and client is more important than attempting to
understand a client through culture/country stereotypes.
 Remember that people have multiple cultural identities e.g. race, sexual
preference, work or student, class. Consider how this intersects with your
own cultural identities.
 Learn about the client’s country of origin and country history (migration
patterns, conflicts) for background information e.g. Amnesty International
country reports.

2. Strategies for the Culturally Competent Counsellor/Caseworker
Prepared for Jansen Newman Institute
Melinda Austen 2008 person2person
2
 Ask clients how they are experiencing the casework process. Avoid incorrect
interpretations of client’s behaviour. This helps to create a more culturally
sensitive therapeutic alliance
 Be aware of the sociopolitical context and power issues between counsellor/
caseworker and client. Particularly be aware of focusing the locus of the
problem within the client without considering the sociopolitical context e.g.
racism, class and gender issues
3. Understand the practice models you adopt
 Recognise that theories of counselling and casework are ‘culture bound’ and
often fail to make explicit their cultural biases and assumptions.
 Western models often focus on:
a. intrapsychic individualism,
b. linear cause and effect thinking,
c. client self disclosure,
d. independence in human development,
e. changing the individual.
 To be a culturally competent caseworker requires you to think outside the
Eurocentric square. Some cultures may:
a. focus more on interconnectedness and needs of the community
b. place more emphasis on the group and family
c. value restraint of strong feelings in communication
d. value indirectness and subtlety.
e. place more weight on non verbals
f. define family composition as including extended or non biological family
g. experience time differently
 An integrative approach to the work allows the caseworker to adapt existing
theories to make them more culturally relevant.
 Be aware of Pederson’s adage: The most dangerous assumption (of western
psychotherapy) is to think that we are sufficiently aware of our own assumptions
(as it relates to other cultures)
(Pederson 1987 in Sue, Ivey, Pederson 1996).
4. Cross Cultural Communication In the session
 Explain the role of casework. Ask the client who they may normally go to for
support and advice in their country of origin and negotiate how you will work
together.
 Our role as ‘co-creator’ . We can learn from clients. Avoid taking an expert
position.

3. Strategies for the Culturally Competent Counsellor/Caseworker
Prepared for Jansen Newman Institute
Melinda Austen 2008 person2person
3
 Learning about and applying specific cultural rituals such as greetings can
demonstrate interest in the culture and build rapport but ensure that this ‘fits’ with
a client’s own personal cultural rituals.
 Counsellor/caseworker may need to disclose more personal information than
usual to establish rapport in a culturally appropriate way and build trust. This can
be done within appropriate boundaries.
 Address race in early sessions as race often ignored or discussed in public
domain. Naming race can make ‘visible and tangible’ what is often hidden. It
also keeps the person in the political.
 Normalise that seeing a caseworker or counsellor for mental health issues in
Australia doesn’t mean the client is ‘crazy’.
 A less formal approach may be required i.e. less verbal instead of ‘talking
therapy’. Meet in less structured settings if this is required
 Consider whether it would be more effective to be more directive and ‘action
oriented’ (CBT) or ‘process oriented’ (psychodynamic, narrative).
 Use interpreters appropriately. Don’t use family members. Use professional paid
interpreters. Attend training.
 Avoid assumptions about language i.e. that counsellor and client share the same
understanding of the words used
 Use cultural genograms to track cultural heritage and migration history eg
refugee or migrant, year of arrival, war or other conflicts? Where were children
born, are any family members living overseas? How does ethnicity affect values
and beliefs?
 Clients from ‘communal’ backgrounds may prefer group or family interventions to
individual work. Invite partners and family to sessions.
 Be aware of reactions to non verbal language such as eye contact, gestures,
touch. Use pacing techniques (mirroring) to engage client.
5. Further ways to enhance cross cultural counselling and casework skills
 Involve oneself in your clients’ community. Attend community functions. Offer
Community consultations with your organization
 Make a commitment to further cross cultural training
 Travel !

4. Strategies for the Culturally Competent Counsellor/Caseworker
Prepared for Jansen Newman Institute
Melinda Austen 2008 person2person
4
6. References.
 Sue, Ivey A, Pederson (1996) A Theory of Multicultural Counselling and
Therapy
 Lukaszowski(1996)Handbook for Developing Cross Cultural Counselling
Skills
 Sue D.W and Sue D. (2003) Counselling the Culturally Diverse. Theory and
Practice. 4th
ed. Ch.1. The Superordinate Nature of Multicultural Counselling
 Sue DW and Sue (1990) Counselling the Culturally Different -Theory and
Practice NY: Wiley
 Austen M (2005) Relationship Formation and Maintenance Issues for Black-
White Interracial Couples. Unpublished
 Ivey A., Ivey M.B., Simek M.L.,(1993) Ch 1. The Culturally Intentional
Counsellor and Therapist in Counselling and Psychotherapy- A Multicultural
Perspective. Allyn and bacon pg 1-10