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Communication

            Communication is how someone interacts with one another. Communication is also very important when it comes to the therapeutic relationship (Hays and Erford, 2018). Clients will communicate the way they feel and their world view. Communication builds relationships between the client and their counselor by building trust and showing empathy and understanding (Hays and Erford, 2018). Communicating to the clients is important in understand where they are coming from and being able to help them through everything they are going through.

            Communication can be verbal or nonverbal when working with different people. Verbal communication is where one speaks words to promote growth and change in a client’s life (Hays and Erford, 2018). When there is a language barrier between the counselor and client it can become difficult to build trust and understanding in the relationship. In todays world many counselors face clients who are not fluent in English and when the counselor can not speak the client’s langrage, the client is missing out on the therapy they need. Language differences can lower one’s self-esteem who speaks little to no English (Hays and Erford, 2018). Both clients and counselors can become frustrated when they can not understand one another. Within the multicultural counseling settings so much time is spent with the client trying to be understood by the counselor.

            Counselors also must be aware of the nonverbal communicating within their counseling settings. Some nonverbal communication can either insult or help their clients. What seems normal for one person could be the total opposite to the other. The same nonverbal expressions for one culture could mean something different in another culture (Hays and Erford, 2018). For example, being arm’s length away from the client could mean they are respecting the client but, in some cultures, it could be they are being rude.

Being a Christian means we should accept everyone no matter who they are. This includes accepting the culture they come from. Galatians 3:28 (NIV) says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We are all the same in Christ eyes, no matter where we come from. When working with clients who are from different cultures should be treated with the same respect. As counselors we need to try to understand where our clients are coming from and educate ourselves with their views. In every counseling session a Christian counselor can share Christ by loving and accepting their client.

Reference

Hays, D. G., & Erford, B. T. (2018). Developing multicultural counseling competence: A systems

approach (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.