Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice by Derald Wing Sue & David Sue

Author:Derald Wing Sue & David Sue [Sue, Derald Wing & Sue, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Psychology, Social Psychology
ISBN: 9781118044896
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2011-05-04T07:31:52+00:00

Research on racial/cultural identity development has slowed considerably since the 1990s (Ponterotto & Mallinckrodt, 2007; Yoon, 2011), and little change in the models presented in this chapter has occurred. In some respects, this reflects the widespread acceptance of the importance of identity development and how much it has become a part of the social-psychological and mental health landscape. On the other hand, it also reflects the considerable confusion about the theory and measurement of racial/cultural identity. Indeed, a special issue of the Journal of Counseling Psychology in 2007 (Cokley, 2007; Helms, 2007) discussed in detail the conceptual and methodological challenges confronting the field. Although many measures have been developed in an attempt to assess and/or test the conceptual models, most have proven limited because of the sometimes nuanced aspects of measurement. It is clear that we have encountered an impasse that can be broken only through the development of more sophisticated and better measures of racial and ethnic identity.

Implications for Clinical Practice

We have already given considerable space to outlining specific therapeutic suggestions, so a repeat of these would be redundant. Rather, in proposing the R/CID model, we have been very aware of some major cautions and possible limitations that readers should take into account in working with minority clients.

1. Be aware that the R/CID model should not be viewed as a global personality theory with specific identifiable stages that serve as fixed categories. The process of cultural identity development is dynamic, not static. One of the major dangers is to use these stages as fixed entities. In actuality, the model should serve as a conceptual framework to help us understand development.

2. Do not fall victim to stereotyping in using these models. Most minority clients may evidence a dominant characteristic, but there are mixtures from other stages as well. Furthermore, situations and the types of presenting problems may make some characteristics more manifest than others. It is possible that minority clients may evidence, for example, conformity characteristics in some situations but resistance and immersion characteristics in others.

3. Know that minority development models are conceptual aids and that human development is much more complex. A question often raised in the formulation of cultural identity development models is whether identity is a linear process. Do individuals always start at the beginning of these stages? Is it possible to skip stages? Can people regress? In general, our clinical experience has been that minority and majority individuals in this society do tend to move at some gross level through each of the identifiable stages. Some tend to move faster than others, some tend to stay predominately at only one stage, and some may regress.

4. Know that identity development models begin at a point that involves interaction with an oppressive society. Most of these are weak in formulating a stage prior to conformity characteristics. Recent Asian immigrants to the United States are a prime example of the inadequacy of cultural identity development models. Many of the Asian immigrants tend to hold very positive and favorable views of their own culture and possess an intact racial/cultural identity already.

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