The Human Diversity In A Counselling Environment Sociology Essay

The Human Diversity In A Counselling Environment Sociology Essay In todays society the concept of both identity and human diversity have become both an integral and important aspect of peoples daily lives. In the case of a counsellors role, where a mutually trusting therapeutic environment is conducive to the success of any outcomes of therapy, it has become paramount for todays professional counsellor to acknowledge and address these issues when entering into any therapeutic relationship with clients. With global migration easily available to many individuals, the World has become a profoundly multicultural, multiethnic and multinational place, with many millions of people moving to live within new cultures. As a result it is estimated that one in every 35 people is such an international immigrant. (Lago, 2011) Such a change in the demographics of potential clients for any counsellor/psychotherapist today has resulted in a high probability that they will come in to contact with individuals of differing race, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs,  political beliefs or other ideologies. The issues regarding identity is invariably complex and can be continually changing (Kettle, 2004) and needs to be successfully navigated by the counsellor to ensure a mutually respectful relationship is created between them and the client in order for any therapeutically beneficial outcome to be achieved. If these identity issues are not addressed the effect could be very harmful and detrimental to any potential relationship due to the dynamics of power and control between the client and counsellor (McKenzie, 1986; Lago, 2011). This essay will describe the key issues of what it is that gives us our identity and what it means to be diverse. A simple definition for diversity can be given as being very different (Oxforddictionaries.com, 2012). It can however, be argued that it is much more than that. It is having an understanding that each individual person is unique and recognising those individual differences. For a counsellor and their client it is the exploration  of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment.  It is about understanding each other and moving beyond  simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the  rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual and discovering how they may affect both the counsellor and client in developing a healthy working relationship. The advent of Rogers third force of psychotherapy, the client centred approach in the 1960s, introduced the idea that the client should be both the focus and at the very centre of the therapeutic session (Rogers, 1957). This soon led to the concept that an acceptance of a clients identity and culture is paramount to these aims being met. The term the culturally encapsulated counsellor was introduced by Wrenn (1962) to critique a universalistic approach to counselling which soon came to be known as multicultural counselling, which today is regarded by many therapists as the fourth force in psychotherapy/counselling. Multicultural counselling is what takes place when a counsellor and their client are from differing cultural groups. Cultural identity itself however is not simply defined by the colour of a persons skin or the geographical location or even their ethnicity, it can encompass a multitude of factors. Gender, religious beliefs, social economic status, sexual orientation are all identity factors that a culturally encapsulated counsellor needs to be aware of, not only from the clients perspective but also to have a good self awareness of their own cultural identity. (Middleton, et al., 2011) The issue of race and ethnic identity comprises of several factors which include an understanding of more than just what it is to black or white. A sense of identification with what whiteness means as compared to being part of a racial/ethnic minority group, including the importance of the difference between race and culture itself is critical to becoming an effect multicultural counsellor. It is vital that counsellors do not assume, for example, that all blacks or all Asians have similar cultural backgrounds. There are various ethnic identifications that exist within each of these racial groups such as language, religion, or gender roles and whilst it is true many of these ethnic groups share the physical characteristics of race, they may not necessarily share the same value and belief  structures (Katz, 1985). Some examples of these ethnic identifications can be seen in the cultural value system of many black Africans, where a great value is placed on the concept of family, especially their  children, who are seen as a  gift from  God. There is a great emphasis on their sense of community and their place in it. Personal wellbeing becomes secondary to that of social conflict resolution, which is seen as more important, to ensure peace and equilibrium within the community. Another example can be seen within the Chinese cultural environment, where passivity rather than assertiveness is revered. Quiescence rather than verbal articulation is seen as a sign of wisdom and there is the role of the all-knowing father that the Chinese respect for authority bestows on them (Ching and Prosen, 1980). The fact that traditional counselling therapies have been developed upon the research with predominantly middle classed white men indicates a propensity towards gender bias within the profession. It has even been reported that some professional counsellors have evaluated female clients as less competent than male clients (Balkin, Schlosser and Levitt, 2009). Aspects of gender can be also affected by religious attitudes from both the counsellor and client, either of which may have more traditional beliefs about specific gender roles and behaviour. There are also certain individuals or groups who adhere to religious fundamentalism which should be taken into consideration, which places women in the more traditional roles other than those chosen by more modern contemporary women. These fundamentalists have been seen to exhibit strong sexist behaviour in regards to issues of gender (Balkin, Schlosser and Levitt, 2009). It is clear that religious identity has been shown play a pivotal role for both the client and the counsellor within the therapeutic process. It is suggested that highly religious people have a tendency to believe they have stronger moral attributes than those of non-religious people (Hunter, 2001 cited in Balkin, Schlosser and Levitt, 2009, p.420). In the case of a highly religious counsellor, such a bias could cause complications within the counselling environment in regards to issues such as homophobia, gender bias and racism. It could be argued that when faced with issues such as homosexuality, which is regarded as a sin in many conservative religions, it could give rise to problems with dealing with clients who fall into the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender group for the highly religious counsellor (Balkin, Schlosser and Levitt, 2009). A persons gender/sexual orientation could be argued as being one of the more complex identity issues, with its anonymity and invisibility being a large factor that can create problems for both counsellor and client. Despite a growing public awareness of gender identity with the acceptance of trans-identified celebrities on popular television such as Graham Norton and Gok Wan, there can be a certain amount of confusion for the counsellor when working with transgender clients as the distinction between gender and sexuality is prone to being misunderstood. (Hawley, 2011) Sexual orientation generally refers to a persons sexual object choice, as in whether we choose to have sex with male or with females. As a result the options are to be straight (heterosexual), gay (homosexual) or bisexual. For most people the determination of sexuality is dependent on the gender of the individuals, i.e.: male/female, male/male, and female/female. However for some this is more complex for what if your gender was unknown to you? For some, this issue goes beyond the physical sexuality of their bodies; it is subject to behaviours, social acceptance and/or belonging to specific groups to which their allocated sex consigns them. (Hawley, 2011) For the counsellor, it is important to be aware of the multiple possibilities that fall within gender/sexuality identification. Pre-judgement and bias is an all too easy mistake for the inexperienced counsellor to make about sexuality, with the arrival of a cross dressing client. Similarly the client themselves may be feeling terrified and in a state of bewilderment as to their own feelings, in such instances a open minded and understanding therapist would be considered a lifeline. (Hawley, 2011) In an effort to address the diversity of clients in the counselling environment, a number of models have been introduced to the counselling professional in an effort to provide adequate training in the areas of race, culture, ethnicity and other areas of diversity as key variables in understanding the representations of psychological distress in clients (Moodley, 2005). Sue, Arredondo and McDavis (1992) states that counsellors who practice without adequate training or competence when working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds are prone to practicing unethically and with potentially harmful actions, which borders on a violation of human rights. Sue and Sue (1990) identified three areas in which a culturally skilled counsellor could become proficient in multiculturalism. The first is the process of becoming aware of their own assumptions about human behaviour, values, biases, preconceived notions and personal limitations. Secondly, is the attempt to understand and share the worldview of their culturally different client with respect and appreciation and without imposing any negative judgments. Thirdly and finally, a culturally skilled counsellor is someone who actively develops and puts into practice appropriate, relevant and sensitive intervention strategies utilising skills when working with their diverse clients. However, since the publication and formal adoption by the American Counselling Association of the Sue, et al. (1982) multicultural counselling competencies (MCC) model, some researchers have noted that little empirical research has been carried out to evaluate the model itself (Chao, 2012). Patterson (1996) states that multicultural counselling is generic in nature and as such all counselling is multicultural. It is not hard to accept the uniqueness of each individual client when you consider the infinite number of combinations and permutations of identify. As such to try and develop a different counselling technique for each one would be an insurmountable task. There appears to be an emphasis on the difference in values between diverse cultures, but it should be acknowledged that so many of these different values are actually customs, lifestyles, habits, social norms and as such common to many different groups and even considered to be universally accepted values (Patterson, 1996). The success of the exsisiting models within counselling/psychotherapy should not be so easily abandoned in an attempt to become more culturally diverse. Any compromise of the westernised therapeutic psychological models should be limited as has been suggested through the intervention of a more multicultural approach when working with ethincally diverse clients, for diluting the process would surely lead to a less effective service being provided (Patterson, 1996) Sue Sue (1990) acknowledged that the core conditions such as unconditional positive regard, respect and accpetance of the individual, an empathic relationship of understanding the clients problem from their own perspective and allowing the client to explore their own core values and reach their own solutions are counselling qualities that may trancend culture. Rogers (1957) claimed that there are five basic qualities that all counsellors need to become an effective counsellor and as such create an effective therapeutic relationship. The nature of this relationship has been well established within the counselling environment and is the same, regardless of whatever cultural, ethnic, gender or social group a client belongs to. Having respect for clients, trusting them to make the right decisions, take responsibility for themselves. Genuiness, where the counsellor acts like a real person, not coming across as the all knowing expert or using a battery of techniques on the client. Empathic understanding for a client is more than simply having the knowledge of the group to which they belong. It is being able to use this knowledge to enter the clients world by invitation through self disclosure by the client, which is related to the degree of respect and genuiness displayed towards the client. (Rogers, 1957; Patterson, 1996) It is essential that communication of these qualities is perceived and felt by the client during the threapeutic process in order for them to be effective. The understanding of cultural differences in both verbal and non-verbal behaviours can overcome some of the difficulties encountered when dealing with culturally diverse clients. It can also be said that these qualities are not only essential for an effective counselling environment but also facilitate all interpersonal relationships. Being neither time-bound or culture-bound thay can encompass all issues of identity within the counselling environment. (Patterson, 1996)

Go for Broke Essay

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was a unique military unit in the United States Army during the Second World War. It was unique in the sense that it was made up primarily of nisei or second-generation Japanese-Americans, a combination of Americans of Japanese descent or emigrants from Japan. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 was the raison d’etre for the 442nd RCT. In the days following the attack, the Japanese-American community took a brunt of the severe backlash as those in the mainland were forcibly relocated to internment camps in remote areas in the western United States when their loyalty was in doubt and despite the professions of loyalty among these Japanese-Americans while those on Hawaii were kept under close guard in their communities though those serving in military units such as the National Guard were dismissed (Inouye, 1967, 78; Fugita & Fernandez, 2004, 85). Feeling their honor tarnished and being treated unfairly, the Japanese-American community lobbied very hard for a chance to prove their loyalty to the United States by military service. In 1943, recognizing the commitment and loyalty displayed by the Japanese-American community in Hawaii, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed the creation of a separate military unit to be made up of these Japanese-Americans. By 1943, the 442nd RCT was created and made up primarily of Japanese-Americans from the internment camp on the mainland, including those from Hawaii. The unit was originally made up of 4,000 men and were commanded by white officers though the some nisei were eventually given battlefield commissions. Their official motto was â€Å"Go for Broke! † Initially this was their motivation in fighting hard but eventually, this motto had a much deeper meaning as these nisei were giving their all in fighting the enemy, not only the Axis but the racial bigotry in the United States in order to prove their worth as citizens of the United States. Throughout their combat service, the 442nd fought mainly in the Mediterranean theater from North Africa to the Italian campaigns at Cassino and Anzio though one unit from the Regiment, the 552nd Field Artillery Battalion helped liberate Jews from the Dachau concentration camp (Fugita & Fernandez, 2004, 90). By the time the campaign had ended, the 44nd became one of the highly decorated units for a â€Å"special† unit during the war with 21 Medals of Honor, most of which were belatedly given many years later; 7 Presidential Unit Citations (the group equivalent of the Medal of Honor for individuals) and almost 20,000 other awards and decorations, especially the Purple Heart which made up half that number due to their high casualty rate that they were called the â€Å"Purple Heart Brigade† (Sterner, 2008, 70). Their service has somewhat vindicated their loved ones interned and helped break the racial barrier between the Japanese Americans and the whites. President Roosevelt was so impressed that that they were actually invited to the White House to call on him (Sterner, 2008, 141). As an epilogue, some of them went on to greater things such as Daniel Inouye, who went on to become a United States Senator and continues to serve to this day. In conclusion, the men of the 442nd had proven themselves to be worthy citizens of the United States and they had paid for it in blood. They had proven that although they are oriental on the outside, they are very much American at heart. References Cooper, M. (2000). Fighting for Honor: Japanese Americans and World War II. New York: Houghton-Mifflin. Fugita, S. & Fernandez, M. (2004). Altered Lives, Enduring Community. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board. (1998). Japanese Eyes, American Heart. Honolulu: Tendai Educational Foundation. Henry, M. R. & Chapell, M. (2000). The US Army of World War II (2): The Mediterranean. Oxford: Osprey Publications. Inouye, D. (1967). Go For Broke! In In N. J. Sparks (Ed. ) True Stories of World War II. Pleasantville, New York: The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. Salyer, L. (2004). â€Å"Baptism by Fire: Race, Military Service, and US Citizenship Policy, 1918-1935. † The Journal of American History 91 (3). 847-876. Sterner, C. D. (2008). Go For Broke. Clearfield, Utah: American Legacy Media. Tateishi, J (1984). And Justice for All: An Oral History of the Japanese American Detention Camps. New York: Random House.

Nutrition and Dentition - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 704 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category Health Essay Level High school Tags: Nutrition Essay Did you like this example? Background Foods are made up of different nutrients. These nutrients include but are not limited to vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Each of these nutrients is necessary to maintain a healthy, functioning body. Chewing is one of the first steps a person does to eat their food and get these nutrients. There are 32 teeth in the mouth, sixteen on the top and bottom. When talking about the state or condition of teeth, we are talking about dentition. When an individual has a lack of teeth, they are edentulous. These words are used throughout this article to describe teeth. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Nutrition and Dentition" essay for you Create order The Issue Dentition in older adults can highly affect nutritional status 7, 11. The aim of this article is to review the nutritional status for older adults who have either decreased or complete lack of teeth. While oral health is important for all ages, it is especially important in the elderly population. According the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 5 individuals aged 65 years or older have lost their teeth6. This leaves individuals at a greater risk for a number of health issues including malnutrition and increased risk of chronic diseases 1,7,9,11. Malnutrition is defined in multiple ways, however, it is generally known as a â€Å"lack of nutrition† due to a decreased food intake 10. Food intake is important because it contains nutrients that are essential for body function. There are modified texture diets such as mechanical soft, pureed, and chopped meat, which change the consistency of food and make it easier to chew. However, those without teeth have a lower intake of fruits and vegetables, due to the tough texture of these foods 1, 3. These foods have a greater amount of nutrients that are necessary to a healthy diet. Dentures or artificial teeth can be an option for edentulous individuals. There are partial and full dentures, however, those can be painful, expensive, and fit poorly. This issue is not just prevalent in the United States but worldwide. The Evidence Research has shown that poor dentition can play a important role in food intake and quality 1, 5, 7,9,11. Finding that smokers and individuals with a lower level of education have a greater risk of periodontal disease, a disease of the gums and mouth11. They were also less likely to consume adequate servings of fruits and vegetables, leading to decreased overall food intake 11. Lower food intake over a period can lead to loss of lean body mass and malnutrition4. This can lead to a disease known as sarcopenia, which is a loss of lean tissue mass with that comes with age 4. Edentulous individuals that consume decreased amounts of fruits and vegetables are at a higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease 1, 7,9,11. These are lifelong diseases that can affect the heart and the body’s ability to process sugar 2. This begs the question, what can be done preventatively to improve oral health? Evidence has also shown that poor dentition can be related to poor nutrition through anxiety and fear 1. Imagine going to lunch with friends, and not knowing if a restaurant will have food you will be able to eat, so you don’t eat lunch. These are the concerns that can lead to malnutrition and put older individuals at risk for hospitalization related to chronic diseases. Recently, a study published in 2014 found that, those with less than 21 teeth, which was defined as ‘poor dentition’, was linked to decreased protein, micronutrient, and dietary fiber intake 1, 11. Educating the older population on appropriate oral health care as well as options to main appropriate nutritional status may be key to decreasing hospitalizations and preventing malnutrition. Summary There is clear evidence of an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease when dentition is poor in the elderly population 1, 7,9,11. This can be related to multiple factors, which include living situation and the type of job they have as well as overall health status, and poor oral health habits. Some of these factors listed above are related to habits formed at a young age. While this was not discussed in detail, perhaps some preventative measures can help with to increase oral health and prevent dental issues later on in life. As well the need for education and counseling for the older population to make them aware of the dental issues.

Essay on The Old Testament - 1397 Words

The Old Testament clearly displays that the Israelites were the â€Å"Chosen† people of God and while there are many events that show destruction of other civilizations, conversion was certainly acceptable to Old Testament thinking. Judaism is not a conversion religion, but it is not opposed to taking in those who will obey the laws of the tradition, and worship Yahweh. The attitude of the Bible is that the Israelites had committed many sins, but would always be forgiven by God. This is evident in Isaiah 4:1 which states, â€Å" Israel needs to be comforted and she will receive more from God† (NIV Isaiah 40:1) While Judaism and the doctrines and texts had many violent moments, there were also peaceful resolutions for many of the stories, and within†¦show more content†¦For instance, an example â€Å"The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites,† (NIV Ezra 9). This makes it pretty clear that the Jews felt that they should not intermarry with the tribes around them, and there was harsh judgment for doing so. Yet in spite of this there were women that were not Jewish that married into the faith, and were good wives. One of these was Ruth, who was a Moabite. Ruth became a heroine in the Jewish canon and is stilled considered the exemplary female figure of a Jewish woman. Ruth was a Moabite and had married the son of a woman named Naomi. When Naomi’s sons have passed away she decides to return to Israel, and Ruth insists on going back with her mother-in-law. She states, â€Å"Your people will be mine and your God will be mine. (NIV Ruth 1:16). Ruth proceeds to return to Israel and convert to Judaism, and she remarries a man named Boaz. The story of Ruth is a famous one, and she goes on to save the Jewish peopl e in a time of crisis. While this is not an example of the Jewish faith forcing conversion, it does show that the idea of conversion was not something they were opposed to under the right conditions. The culture of Judaism is notShow MoreRelatedThe Testament Of The Old Testament1645 Words   |  7 PagesThe Old Testament is the largest part of the bible nestled behind the leather binding in the front of the book. Unlike most books, told from one-person or even two this is comprised of multiple, some stories even having two different versions in another point of view; over time it has become a large collection of ancient texts written and re-written by different authors and editors over the many years. The stories show the ancient Israelites, they show the laws, and rituals, which make up their religionRead MoreThe Testament Of The Old Testament Essay2307 Words   |  10 Pages1. The Old Testament consisted of a set of the spiritual text of documentations, which were written by dif ferent people at various times to a different audience. Most of the Old Testament contains short stories of traditional stories and those stories of distinguish ways God established mankind. These stories are often told to the people in narrative form, which are guidelines often referred to as laws, songs, genealogies, and list from these authors that composed the Old Testaments. 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The covenant with Noah was God’s promise that He would never destroy the earth and humankind with floods again. This sign of this covenant is the rainbow, this was after God sent a flood to destroy the wickedness that had become widespread on earth after the Fall of man: Genesis 9:11 â€Å"I establishRead MoreThe Old Testament And New Testament1373 Words   |  6 PagesThe names â€Å"Old Testament† and â€Å"New Testament† are inherently theological in nature. Because there is a difference distinctly built into givin g them different notations, it implies that there are differences between each the Old Testament and the New Testament, whether it is subtle in nature or obvious in nature. To Christians, the difference means that the Old Testament contains dealings between God and the world and even some of the rules made are made irrelevant by the interactions of Christ JesusRead MoreThe Old Testament And New Testament1704 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Old Testament to discover the story and character of God that is concealed within the pages of the Old Testament stories. By taking a little time to understand the context of the stories in the Old Testament readers can see the faithfulness, loving nature, and kindness of God. Most times people are dissuaded from reading the Old Testament books because they assume God is mean and harsh within those pages, but that simply isn’t the truth. God is revealed in every story in the Bible – Old TestamentRead MoreThe Old Testament And New Testament 1373 Words   |  6 Pagesstudies in the New Testament. The New Testament catches many attentions because it describes Jesus’ life and birth of the church. As people focus more on the New Testament, the Old Testament is viewed as an unnecessary book to read. Christians have debated whether the Old Testament is needed to be read. Many Christians have claimed that the Old Testament is unnecessary to the biblical study with the New Testament containing all the study materials needed. Even so, Old Testament is vital literatureRead MoreThe Old Testament Essay2294 Words   |  10 Pages1. The Old Testament consisted of a set of documentations of religious scriptures, which were written by different people at various times to a different audience. Most of the Old Testament contains short stories of traditional stories and those stories of distinguish ways God established mankind. These stories are often told to the people in narrative form, which are guidelines often referred to a s laws, songs, genealogies, and list from these authors that composed the Old Testaments. The pressing