Assignment: Diversity Challenges and Reflections

Walden University COUN 6726/COUN 6726S: Couples and Family Counseling

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Week 3: Diversity and Cultural Challenges Differences in cultural and societal norms, and family member beliefs about what those differences mean, can have a significant impact on the family system. The family members and subgroups of the system may each have their own beliefs and preconceived notions based on their cultural backgrounds.

It is important for couples and family counselors to develop skills in recognizing and understanding the impact of different cultures and beliefs on the family system. The IAMFC Code of Ethics includes a section that addresses diversity and multiculturalism, as does the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association.

This week, you will analyze how diversity can affect couples and families. You will reflect on a time when you and your family were touched by diversity, and you will consider how the issue involved might have been handled in a counseling session.

Learning Objectives Students will:

Analyze the impact of diversity issues on families Analyze cultural sensitivity in future professional practice

Learning Resources Required Readings

Canfield, B. (2021). Diversity and intercultural work in family counseling. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.). Foundations of couples, marriage, and family counseling (2 ed., pp. 47-59). Wiley & Sons.

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Journal: Diversity Challenges and Reflections Couples and family counseling often involves understanding and integrating diverse influences on the system’s presenting issues, as well as ongoing wellness and development of the system. Counselors must be aware not only of these influences, but also the manner in which they may impact the system members—differing degrees, perceptions, and meaning. In addition, the intersection of multiple diversity issues can create another layer of challenges for couples and families.

Familiarizing yourself with multicultural standards of practice is a first step in developing cultural competencies, as is exploring your own thoughts and beliefs regarding diversity. For this Assignment, you consider a point in your life when your family was touched by diversity, discuss how it affected your family, and how such an issue might be handled in a counseling session.

To Prepare:

Review the Learning Resources and consider the many challenges diverse populations bring to counseling sessions. Reflect on a time when diversity touched your family.

Assignment:

In your Journal, identify a time where diversity touched your family. Based on this time, answer the following questions:

What impact did this time have on your family?

Sperry, L. (2010). Culture, personality, health, and family dynamics: Cultural competence in the selection of culturally sensitive treatments. The Family Journal, 18(3), 316–320. doi:10.1177/1066480710372129

Sperry, L. (2011). Culturally, clinically, and ethically competent practice with individuals and families dealing with medical conditions. The Family Journal, 19(2), 212–216. doi:10.1177/1066480711400560

Shannon, P. J. (2014). Refugees’ advice to physicians: How to ask about mental health. Family Practice, 31(4), 462–466. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmu017

Hypothetically, if you addressed the issue in a family counseling session, what do you think the counselor should know and explore with your family to fully address the issue? How will you be sensitive to the impact diversity has on families and couples in your own professional practice? Your journal should be 2-3 pages in APA format excluding the title page. Please note this is a personal journal and APA references are not required.

By Day 7

Submit your Journal.

Note: The focus of Journal assignments is reflection and self-awareness. Submissions do not need to include resources. Journal assignments should, however, adhere to graduate-level writing and be free from writing errors.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

Week in Review This week, you considered multicultural issues in counseling and reflected on a time when you and your family were touched by diversity.

Next week, you will delve further into systems concepts and models by discussing the genogram and how it can be used as a visual tool for understanding the family system.

To access your rubric:

Week 3 Journal Rubric

To submit your Journal:

Week 3 Journal

To go to the next week:

Week 4