You are on page 1of 3

Cultural Identification Workbook

We all view life through the lens of our prior experiences. We can train ourselves to
question the assumptions of this filter, but the filter will always remain; that is human nature.
Reflecting back on my history and experiences, it is rather probable that my observations,
attitudes, and intervention choices will be influenced in a particular direction.
I am usually scientifically inclined in all walks of my life. Yet, I have had such a strong
connection with cultural identity based off of my experiences and not simply my knowledge
of my genetic makeup. I identify rather strictly as Jewish and not as mixed race. Having this
value, my attitude towards clients has been, and will likely continue to be one of which I do
not make assumptions of a person based on the way they look, or the titles on their medical
paperwork. I instead engage each person in an exploration and allow them to shape their
sense of identity for me.
Furthermore, because my culture values community and family, I will be inclined to use
interventions that connect community resources. I believe this will be to the advantage of my
clients because many cultures share this community oriented value. The research also
supports greater resistance towards psychological trauma when an individual has a reliable
social network.
My Experience as a member from a minority culture should also prove helpful in crosscultural counseling. My intimate understanding of what minority cultures experience will
help me to have genuine empathy towards this situation, and be able to validate the clients in
ways that a counselor from the dominant culture could never do. These are all positive
aspects of my experiences relative to cross-cultural counseling.

Cultural Identification Workbook


My cultural influence and view of emotional expression may prove helpful, depending on
the clients culture. The fact that I was raised to view emotions and emotional expression as a
healthy normal part of the human experience may prove helpful for those who find relief in a
comfortable environment to reveal emotions. On the other hand, it may influence me, like the
American culture, to view an unexpressive person as repressing or withdrawing from their
emotions. This may lead me to attempt an intervention to help an unemotional person to
express their emotions. This intervention may not be as useful in the context of some
peoples culture and their own life lens.
Because my culture views woman and children in high regard, I may likely be highly
tuned in to, or label as undesirable any aggressive or overly dominant behavior from a man to
a woman, or an adult to a child. This may lead me to at least struggle with the desire to
intervene on domestic abuse, or behavioral practices that put the rights of female woman and
children below males. This can be problematic considering the high percentage of cultures
who are patriarchal, and whose woman and children may see this as an acceptable and
appropriate way of living.
My cultural and familial experiences with the concept of free-will have influenced my
observations, attitudes and attempted interventions. Having had engrained in me the notion
that we are the driver in our own life, it is hard for me to wrap my mind around concepts that
take an external locus of control. I have recently researched some theories about cause and
effect, and string theory that have led me to question internal locus of control. Still, seeing
life through a lens of internal locus of control is more automated for me. Therefore, I intend
to expose myself to more research so that I can be better prepared in dealing with those

Cultural Identification Workbook


cultures that operate from an external locus of control, who may see any intervention to
change that frame of mind as inappropriate to their context.
As I am sure is true for most people, there are aspects of my upbringing that will aid me
in my skill development for cross-cultural counseling, and there are also elements that I
intend to adapt. For those elements, moving forward, I will remain aware of them and how
they skew my view of others who see life through a different lens. I will take the time to
expose myself to literature, blogs, and books that hold different views so that I can be aware
of the other side of the story. I have started to build a schema for dealing with situations that
dont fit my current schemas.
In the Fall semester of 2015, I began exposing myself to and submersing myself in the
cultures of others whom I have had long standing assumptions about. For example, I spent
some time with people from the Muslim culture, and I participated in a Christmas tradition
with a friend and colleague. I found these events to be helpful in keeping my own biases at
the forefront of my mind, and in shedding some light on previous assumptions. I will
continue to seek out communication with those who introduce me to events and practices
outside my own. I think even more so than doing research, this is essential. I intend to come
to know myself as a competent culturally diverse counselor, and to do so I will continue to
interact with those who expose me to different practices. After all, we can only truly know
ourselves by first understanding others.

You might also like