When using REBT and behavioural theories, a counsellor must
consider the following issues:
- Counselors should acknowledge their own racial and cultural
heritage and the effects of oppression, racism, discrimination, and
stereotyping. They should also seek out additional learning
opportunities to improve their understanding of different cultural
populations.
- Counselors should recognize that their client’s world view is
different than their own. To achieve this understanding, counselors
must be aware of their emotional reactions to other racial and
ethnic groups, possess knowledge of the population with whom they
work, and familiarize themselves with culturally appropriate
research.
- Counselors must understand the characteristics of therapy and
its impact on cultural groups. For this, it is important that they
maintain knowledge of family dynamics, hierarchy, bias in
assessments, and discriminatory practices that may impact their
client.