Counseling 532 Multicultural Counseling Mondays 9 AM-4:50 PM, May 16 - June 20 Dr. Michael Loewy Office Hours: By appointment michaeijoewy@u nd.edu 777-3744 308b Montgomery Hall 218-207-8011 (cell) THE COURSE Multicultural Counseling is a survey course designed to introduce graduate level students to the research, theories and paradigms of counseling with diverse populations. The content of the course will focus on race/ethnicity, culture, age, religion/spiritual orientation, sexual orientation, disability, class status, and how each of these intersects with each other and with gender. Many people enroll in this class expecting to learn how to do therapy with "minority" clients. However, acquiring multicultural counseling competencies is a process; there is no easy cookbook or "multicultural counseling" recipe! Because of the time limitations of a summer course and because we have so much to cover, this class will focus primarily on the first two components of multicultural counseling competencies: awareness and knowledge. Since issues of multiculturalism are rarely honestly discussed in our society, this class has the potential to be powerful. I have found in the past that the readings, discussions, presentations, and videotapes stimulate thought and affect. Many times students don't expect to respond to the material. However, almost all students experience anger, anxiety, fear, surprise, and excitement at some point. In class we will discuss these reactions and explore how they may impact your interpretation of the readings. Admittedly, this may be a bit uncomfortable at times, but if we create a safe environment it should be okay. It is threatening to (re)examine values and beliefs; however, I believe this is part of the learning process. It is critical to develop a safe "space" in which the sensitive issues of this course can be seriously addressed. Part of this exploration is cognitive, but we cannot deny how we-as thinking, feeling beings-interact with the material presented. Thus, it is important for us to explore our reactions (both a cognitive and affective) to the readings and class discussions. Creating space involves providing safe, non-threatening environment. To accomplish this, I am encouraging you to respect one another's contributions. This does not mean that you have to agree with all positions or that you cannot voice opposition; it simply means letting others voice their opinions without interruptions or without fear of being attacked personally. I think it is healthy to challenge our ideas and, if necessary, modify our positions. This can be accomplished in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
2 COURSE OBJECTIVES In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding about the counseling issues of diverse populations, the course is organized to address the 3 components of multicultural counseling competencies: ~ Awareness of ones own values and biases, ~ knowledge of values and worldviews of diverse populations other than your own, and ~ skills or appropriate intervention strategies and techniques. COURSE STRUCTURE The course will consist of 6 eight-hour class meetings which will include experiential exercises, discussion, lecture, and video/audiotape presentations on various topics. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EV ALUA TION CRITERIA 1. Attendance on-time at each and every class is mandatory. Missing one class will result in an incomplete or unsatisfactory grade. Tardiness will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the instructor. Generally, extra work will be assigned to make up for tardiness. You have been provided with my cell phone number to use if you have an urgent message. Of course, on-time attendance is meaningless if you do not participate fully in the class discussions and experiential exercises. 10% of your grade will be based on the subjective judgment of the instructor as to the quality and quantity of your participation. This includes the "Show and Tell" exercise and the "Cultural Collage." Please see section on "Ethics and Professionalism" below for expectations regarding self-disclosure. 2. Two 2-page, personal self-reflection papers on Overcoming Our Racism along with taking responsibility for facilitating discussion on one chapter will constitute 10% of your grade. Chapters will be assigned in class. These papers should be a personal journal that discuss your emotional reactions to Dr. Sue's book, not a synopsis or summary of the book. Where are you in your personal journey to overcome your racism? What steps have you taken so far? What are your next steps? What are your long-term goals? 3. Four 2-page reflection papers on different chapters from the Handbook of Multicultural Counseling will each constitute 10% of your grade for a total of 40%. These papers must specifically address how the issues raised in the chapter apply to your life, someone you know, or a client with whom you have worked. This is not to be a summary or "book report" on the chapter, but a thoughtful application of the ideas to your work. One paper will be due each of the last 4 days of the class meetings. 4. A 30-minute presentation to the class on a topic of your choice that must be approved by the instructor prior to the presentation will constitute 40% of your grade. A one-page topic proposal/outline is due on June 14. The instructor will give each student feedback and approval of their topic before proceeding with the development of the presentation. Any topic relevant to this course will be considered for approval. We encourage you to choose a topic that will benefit your colleagues and address an issue that has not already been addressed in the course. Your presentation must include at least 5 scholarly references. Please provide handouts for the class, including
3 references. Your handout, full outline, or PowerPoint slides will be handed in to the instructor for evaluation purposes. You mayor may not use PowerPoint for your presentation. However, if using PowerPoint, do not put the entire text of your presentation on the slides. The presentations will be on the last day of the course. The presentations will be evaluated by both your peers and the instructor. The average of your peer evaluations will be weighted equally with the instructor evaluations to compute your grade for this assignment. See evaluation guide attached. TEXTS AND READINGS: Ponterotto, J. G., Casas, J. M., Suzuki, L. A., Alexander, C. M. (Eds.) (2001). Handbook of Multicultural Counseling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Sue, D. W. (2004). Overcoming Our Racism. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Download or order the following documents from AP A: What Practitioners Should Know About Working With Older Adults. Psychological Testing of Language Minority and Culturally Different Children. Developing Adolescents: A Reference for Professionals. The Americans With Disabilities Act and How It Affects Psychologists. Enhancing Your Interactions with People with Disabilities. Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologist. Racism and Psychology. What can Psychology tell us about prejudice, discrimination, and racism. The English-Only Movement: Myths, Reality, and Implications for Psychology. Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services to Ethnic, Linguistic, and Culturally Diverse Populations. American Psychological Association AIDS-Related Policy Statements. Guidelines for Psychotherapy With Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Clients. AP A Policy Statements on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns. Racism and Psychology. What can psychology tell us about Prejudice, discrimination, and racism Annotated Bibliography{Jhy of Psychology and Racism Psychological Treatment of Ethnic Minority Populations Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educations & School Personnel Appropriate Therapeutic Responses To Sexual Orientation COURSE SCHEDULE: May 16: Discussion of syllabus and presentation topics Introductions-how are you perceived? Guess the culture exercise
May 23: May 30: June 6: June 13: 10-12:00 June 20: 1-4:30 4:30-4:50 View and discuss The Way Home 1 5t journal on Overcoming Our Racism due. Show and Tell: Please bring something to share with the class that represents your culture(s), broadly defined. This can be an icon, a picture, a book, a song, a reading, or anything else that represents your culture(s). Discussion of Overcoming Our Racism View and Discuss Color of Fear Topic proposal and 1 5t reflection paper due. Group Identity Development Multicultural Competence and Guidelines for Competent Practice with various groups View and discuss Light in the Shadows 2 nd journal on Overcoming Our Racism and 2 nd reflection paper due. Check in regarding your reactions to last week's activities. Discussion of Overcoming Our Racism Religion Presentation View and discuss Please Hold the Door 3 rd reflection paper due. View and discuss Its Elementary View and discuss Taking Off Presentation outline/handout and 4 th reflection paper due. Cultural Collage: You are asked to create a collage to stimulate further awareness about your cultural heritage(s) and, moreover, to stimulate a broader discussion about culture. The collage should consist of multiple representations of your cultural heritage(s) as it is reflective of how you see yourself. You are asked to share your collage with the class and briefly (5 minutes) discuss its meanings to you. Student Presentations Student Presentations Course Evaluations 4
5 ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM Counseling Psychologists, Counselors and Counselors-in-training are expected to maintain a consistently high level of ethical and professional behavior. As part of this, all students must keep absolute confidence concerning any and all communication from their clients (even if they are role-plays with a fellow student) as well as any communications that they hear or see relating to the clients of anyone else in this class. A violation of this confidence will result in the immediate dismissal from class and the assignment of a failing grade. Any violation of other ethical standards will result in disciplinary action and may result in the immediate dismissal from class and the assignment of a failing grade. Ethical standards are found in American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice at http://www.counseling.org/resources/ethics.htm or the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles Of Psychologists And Code Of Conduct 2002 at http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html#7 02. Here is what AP A says about the ethics of requiring self-disclosure in an academic program: Psychologists do not require students or supervisees to disclose personal information in course- or program-related activities, either orally or in writing, regarding sexual history, history of abuse and neglect, psychological treatment, and relationships with parents, peers, and spouses or significant others except if (1) the program or training facility has clearly identified this requirement in its admissions and program materials or (2) the information is necessary to evaluate or obtain assistance for students whose personal problems could reasonably be judged to be preventing them from performing their training- or professionally related activities in a competent manner or posing a threat to the students or others. (AP A, 2002, 7.04) Please be advised that self-reflection and self-disclosure is an academic requirement of this department and of this class in particular.
532 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING LEARNING OUTCOMES Quality and quantity of your participation. This includes the "Show and Tell" exercise and the "Cultural Collage." Two 2-page, personal self-reflection papers on Overcoming Our Racism along with taking responsibility for facilitating discussion. Chapters will be assigned in class. These papers should be a personal journal that discuss your emotional reactions to Dr. Sue's book, not a synopsis or summary of the book. Where are you in your personal journey to overcome your racism? What steps have you taken so far? What are your next steps? What are your long-term goals? Four 2-page reflection papers on different chapters from the Handbook of Multicultural Counseling. These papers must specifically address how the issues raised in the chapter apply to your life, someone you know, or a client with whom you have worked. This is not to be a summary or "book report" on the chapter, but a thoughtful application of the ideas to your work. One paper will be due each of the last 4 days of the class meetings. A 30-minute presentation to the class on a topic of your choice that must be approved by the instructor prior to the presentation. A one-page topic proposal/outline is due. The instructor will give each student feedback and approval of their topic before proceeding with the development of the presentation. Any topic relevant to this course will be considered for approval. We encourage you to choose a topic that will benefit your colleagues and address an issue that has not already been addressed in the course. Your presentation must include at least 5 scholarly references. Please provide handouts for the class.
PRESENTATION EVALUATION 7 1. Content-50 points Does the presentation address the topic in a comprehensive and meaningful way for your work? What did you like? What could have been better? 2. Organization-25 points Was the presentation well organized? Could you follow it and understand the transitions? What did you like? What could have been better? 3. Presentation style-25 points Was the presenter professional, prepared, poised? What did you like? What could have been better?