Assignment Task:
Read assignment and draft of the completed assignment. Add headings to each paragraph of draft:
Assignment -
Culture affects our personalities and behaviors. To analyze underlying reasons for bias and the effects on treatment methods, you will be watching a short film that asks what if our normal wasn't normal? What roles do perspective and empathy play in a counselor's approach? This assignment will help prepare you for the final paper on bias in Topic 8. Need Assignment Help?
First, watch "Love Is All You Need?" located in the Topic 6 Resources. Analyze the cultural differences, behaviors, and actions for bias and underlying reasons that affect a counselor's approach. In 500-650 words, discuss how the culture affected personality formation, psychological difficulties, and help-seeking behaviors in the short film. Which Counselor Dispositional Expectation would help you work with clients who identify on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum? Discuss the sources of bias and how it would change the treatment method for different ethnic groups.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
This assignment is informed by the following CACREP Standards:
- The impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on an individual's views of others.
- Help-seeking behaviors of diverse clients.
- The impact of spiritual beliefs on clients' and counselors' worldviews.
- Strategies for identifying and eliminating barriers, prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination
Draft -
Cultural Impact on Human Behavior: An Analysis of "Love Is All You Need?"
Culture has a significant impact on the development of an individual's personality, behaviors, and experiences, influencing how people view the world and engage with each other. In counseling, recognizing these cultural influences is essential, especially when assisting diverse groups, including those within the LGBTQIA+ community. The short film "Love Is All You Need?" acts as a compelling case study, showcasing a reimagined world that challenges traditional gender roles and sexual orientations. This distinctive narrative sparks a conversation about the ingrained biases present in society and their effects on counseling practices. This paper intends to explore how cultural variances, biases, and help-seeking behaviors affect treatment approaches for individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, with a specific emphasis on LGBTQIA+ clients.
The film "Love Is All You Need?" presents an imaginative scenario where traditional gender roles and sexual orientations are turned upside down, prompting viewers to reflect on their own biases and the consequences of societal norms. This reversed viewpoint enables a significant examination of how culture affects personality, behavior, and the reasons behind seeking assistance, particularly in counseling settings for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The cultural aspects of personality development, as indicated by Lee et al. (2024), highlight the impact of one's cultural background and societal beliefs on self-identity and interpersonal connections. In the narrative, characters reveal biases that are deeply rooted in their cultural norms, which bring to light the prejudices that LGBTQIA+ individuals often encounter in a heteronormative society. The dynamics among the characters serve as a poignant reminder of how societal norms can contribute to psychological challenges, including anxiety and depression, especially for individuals who feel the need to fit into traditional gender roles. Such internal dilemmas can impede the ability to seek help effectively, as many may think that mental health services do not reflect their personal experiences (Sue et al., 2022). As a result, it is essential that counseling strategies emphasize cultural sensitivity to support diverse identities and correct biases that exist within treatment frameworks.
Counselors should understand how their personal biases and cultural backgrounds influence their client interactions. According to Nuha et al. (2025), the personalities of counselors and their personal theories significantly impact the formation of therapeutic alliances. One important expectation when working with LGBTQIA+ clients is the development of empathy. Empathy helps counselors to connect authentically with clients, establishing a secure environment for exploration and healing (Polatajko, Davis, & McEwen, 2024). By practicing empathy, counselors can lessen potential biases and build trust, thereby enhancing the therapeutic alliance.
Furthermore, recognizing the cultural backgrounds of diverse ethnic groups is crucial, as biases can significantly differ among populations. For example, while some cultures may have more progressive views on LGBTQIA+ identities, others may cling to traditional norms that make non-heterosexual orientations taboo (Klibert et al., 2025). Thus, a generic treatment approach is inadequate. Counselors must adjust their methods, considering the cultural context of each client, to effectively address both psychological challenges and the cultural barriers to seeking help.
Conclusion:
In summary, the film "Love Is All You Need?" serves as a lens through which to explore the intersection of culture, bias, and counseling strategies. It poignantly illustrates how deeply ingrained cultural norms can shape personalities and influence psychological well-being, with notable implications for counselors. Effective treatment for diverse clients, particularly those on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, requires a deep understanding of cultural backgrounds and an emphasis on empathy to foster a supportive therapeutic environment. By addressing biases and adapting approaches that consider clients' cultural contexts, counselors can develop effective strategies to support diverse populations in their journeys toward healing and self-acceptance. Ultimately, a nuanced understanding of culture's role in shaping individual experiences will enhance counselors' efficacy and improve outcomes for those seeking help.