Problem:
Read the assignment and classmate's response. Reply to classmate in one brief yet well-developed paragraph using any two references to help explain/support. Cite and reference in APA 7th edition format:
Assignment-
Reflect on racial identity development models discussed in previous chapters of the text and discuss why it is reasonable to assume different types of treatment will be more or less effective with individuals of the same ethnic group.
This discussion question 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.
Classmate-
This week's prompt really made me pause and reflect-not just on the models we've studied, but on the people I've known and the stories I've heard growing up in the Rio Grande Valley. Sue et al. (2022) highlight how racial identity development isn't a one-size-fits-all journey, even among people who share the same ethnic background. That idea feels especially true in my community.
I think about how two Mexican American clients might walk into the same counseling office with completely different needs. One might have grown up in a household that emphasized assimilation, where speaking Spanish was discouraged and mental health wasn't openly discussed. Another might have been raised in a bicultural home that celebrated heritage and viewed therapy as a tool for empowerment. Same ethnicity, but different experiences-and likely, different stages of racial identity development.
Sue et al. (2022) describe how these stages-from conformity to dissonance to immersion and beyond-shape how people see themselves, their culture, and even their counselor. That's why it makes sense that treatment approaches need to shift. A client in the conformity stage might feel safer with a more structured, mainstream approach, while someone in the resistance or immersion stage might need a space that validates their cultural pride and challenges systemic issues.
For me, this reinforces the importance of slowing down in those early sessions. Asking open questions. Listening for what's said-and what's not. Being willing to adjust my approach, even if it means stepping outside my comfort zone. Cultural competence is part of it, but I'm learning that cultural humility-being curious, being teachable-is just as vital. Need Assignment Help?
Reference:
- Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Wiley.
- Lee, W. M., Orozco, G. L., & Kwan, K. L. K. (2024). Introduction to multicultural counseling for helping professionals. Routledge.
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (2024). CACREP 2023 annual report.
- Kornienko, O., Umaña-Taylor, A. J., Hernández, M. M., & Ha, T. (2024). Friendship network and school socialization correlates of adolescent ethnic-racial identity development. Journal of youth and adolescence, 53(11), 2551-2571.
- Smith, N. A., Camacho-Thompson, D. E., & Tynes, B. M. (2025). Constructed online experiences facilitate ethnic-racial identity development among Black and Latinx adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 29(3), 220-236.
- Teran, M., Le, T., Austin, D., & Shin, R. (2024). Therapist cultural humility, Black lesbian, gay, or bisexual centrality, client satisfaction with therapist, and future utilization of counseling services among Black lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication.