Problem:
When working with clients from diverse backgrounds, counselors need to consider acculturation, how much someone has adapted to or identifies with a new culture, because it can seriously shape how they view careers, success, and even the results of assessments. Zunker (2016) emphasizes in Chapters 8-10 that assessments often reflect mainstream cultural values, which might not align with a client's personal or cultural identity.
For example, say you're working with a Korean-American teen whose parents are pushing for a medical career, but the teen is drawn to graphic design. If you ignore acculturation, you might miss the tension between family expectations and personal interests. Or imagine a recent immigrant who's unfamiliar with certain job titles on an interest inventory, they might score low on something simply because they don't recognize it, not because they're uninterested.
Using things like storytelling helps clients express what matters to them in culturally meaningful ways, this way the counselor can really hear their story. When a counselor factors in acculturation it can help them give more accurate, respectful, and useful guidance during a session. Need Assignment Help?
Zunker, V. G. (2016). Career counseling: A holistic approach (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.