multicultural considerations
I'd like to start off by saying that embracing and respecting diversity is of utmost importance to me. In demonstrating this, my integrated counseling approach is sensitive to student diversity, whether religious, racial, socioeconomic, disability, gender, or sexual preference. The techniques of both SFBT and Reality Therapy demonstrate this sensitivity by allowing students to define their own goals and use their own resources to create a solution. In this way, these theories respect each client's uniqueness and worldview.
The techniques of REBT are not as culturally sensitive as those of SFBT and Reality Therapy because the counselor must take on a directive role. For example, in using the ABCDE model to question a client's beliefs, I am assuming that the client's beliefs are indeed irrational (even if the client does not agree). Even so, I believe the benefits of allowing a client to understand his or her irrational belief and replace this belief with a more rational belief is vital to the counseling process. To ensure that I do not offend my clients, I will only use REBT once I have established a solid relationship with a client. I will also take advantage of the opportunity to engage in self-reflection of my own biases and faulty beliefs. For example, if I begin leading a student to question a religious or cultural belief that I should not, I can stop myself, and later reflect on why I assumed that student's belief was irrational in the first place.
The techniques of REBT are not as culturally sensitive as those of SFBT and Reality Therapy because the counselor must take on a directive role. For example, in using the ABCDE model to question a client's beliefs, I am assuming that the client's beliefs are indeed irrational (even if the client does not agree). Even so, I believe the benefits of allowing a client to understand his or her irrational belief and replace this belief with a more rational belief is vital to the counseling process. To ensure that I do not offend my clients, I will only use REBT once I have established a solid relationship with a client. I will also take advantage of the opportunity to engage in self-reflection of my own biases and faulty beliefs. For example, if I begin leading a student to question a religious or cultural belief that I should not, I can stop myself, and later reflect on why I assumed that student's belief was irrational in the first place.