The application of a psychologically based model for cross-cultural counseling training within rehabilitation counselor education.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cross-cultural counseling training as a short term treatment approach with master's students in rehabilitation counseling to increase cross-cultural counseling competence with Mexican American rehabilitation clients. Hispanics are projected to be the largest minority group in the United States by year, suggesting that Hispanics and Mexican Americans in need of mental health and rehabilitation counseling services will increase. Demographics studies find Hispanics to have characteristics that are generally correlated with increased prevalence of mental and physical health problems requiring psychotherapeutic services. Although there appears to be a need for counseling services by Mexican Americans, current counseling needs of Mexican Americans are not being adequately met. Cultural encapsulation of counselors-in-training has been identified as contributing to the difficulties experienced by mental health professionals in serving Mexican Americans. This issue of cultural encapsulation and its effects on ethnic minorities generated training recommendations from professional conferences. Using these recommendations as a foundation, the American Psychological Association Education and Training Committee of Division 17 developed minimal cross-cultural counseling competencies to be incorporated into counselor training programs. The cross-cultural counseling competency areas identified along three dimensions; awareness, knowledge and skills. This study investigated the efficacy of a cross-cultural counseling training program designed specifically to increase competence along the dimensions of awareness, knowledge, and skills. The study used a quasi-experimental pre-post test control group design. The study population consisted of 29 master' s students in rehabilitation counseling. Criterion measures were given to all subjects before and after the training. The experimental group received cross-cultural counseling training which combined World View, Intercultural Sensitizer, and Triad training models. Significant differences were not found between groups. However, the experimental group showed a significant within group difference in mean score gains on the dependent variables of skills beyond the.05 level of confidence. The data suggested that cross-cultural counseling training is effective as a short term treatment approach with master's level students in rehabilitation counseling to increase cross-cultural counseling competence in the area of skills with Mexican American rehabilitation clients.