Question

This assignment is for a Culturally Alert Counseling class. The first culture, within this assignment:

Discuss the Native American culture, specifically males, and what issues a counselor must be culturally sensitive to and what obstacles may be present.

My initial thoughts are you also have to be mindful that the Native American culture is very spiritual, uses sweat lodges to connect with their spirits when they feel "broken" and I believe they rely on their tribal elders for guidance? Also, men face a stigma in mental health seeking patterns, is this the same for Native American males?

Thank you

Answer 1

fFor a Native American man, the approach cannot be similar to an average white mam, because of the cultural issues. Thefollowing fwctors should be kept in mind before addressing issues of a Native American male:

• These people would be highly verbal in their culture and may appear to be reserved on the outside.
• Is a man is following his traditional policies, he may not make direct eye contacts with the counsel or, and this should not be understood as being underconfident.
• If the counsellor seems to loosen the tone with some hi,or, it has to be understood that the men may not be very interactive on the humour front, as they seem to be reserved
• As a result of their cultural orientation, they have built up certain ain’t of self confidence and a self esteem, and if any aspect of the culture is hurt would hurt their sf concept as well.
• When entering into mainstream, they seem to be lost with their identity. There are many people of generated who would be confused about their cultures. There may b a loss of cultural identity, which may also make them further vulnerable.
• Males have known to be the provider and protector, which places them as the head, and acceptance of the fact that they have a mental illness or that they are visiting a counsellor, could be difficult, since outside their community they are quite reserved.