Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies
Overview
Developed by the Multicultural Counseling Competencies Revisions Committee:
Dr. Manivong J. Ratts, chair (Seattle University)
Dr. Anneliese A. Singh (University of Georgia)
Dr. Sylvia Nassar-McMillan (North Carolina State University)
Dr. S. Kent Butler (University of Central Florida)
Julian Rafferty McCullough (Georgia State University)
Appointed by Dr. Carlos Hipolito-Delgado, President of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (2014-2015)
Endorsed on June 29, 2015 by the Executive Council of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
Endorsed on July 20, 2015 by American Counseling Association Governing Council
Table of Contents
Overview (Page 3)
Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies Conceptual Framework (Page 4)
Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (Pages 5-14)
Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies Conceptual Framework
The Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) revises the former Multicultural Counseling Competencies (MCC) developed by Sue, Arredondo, and McDavis (1992).
Offers counselors a framework for implementing multicultural and social justice competencies into counseling theories, practices, and research.
A visual map (Figure 1) illustrates the relationship between constructs and competencies being articulated within the MSJCC.
Quadrants highlight the intersection of identities and the dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression that influence the counseling relationship.
Developmental domains reflect various layers leading to multicultural and social justice competence:
Counselor self-awareness
Client worldview
Counseling relationship
Counseling and advocacy interventions
Embedded within the first three developmental domains are the aspirational competencies: attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, skills, and action (AKSA).
The socioecological model is incorporated in the counseling and advocacy interventions domain to support a multi-level framework for individual counseling and social justice advocacy.
Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies
I. Counselor Self-Awareness
Privileged and marginalized counselors develop self-awareness to explore their own attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, skills, and actions in relation to their self-awareness and worldview.
1. Attitudes and Beliefs
Privileged and marginalized counselors become aware of their social identities and group statuses, examining aspects like power, privilege, oppression, strengths, limitations, assumptions, values, beliefs, and biases.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Acknowledge their assumptions and worldviews as members of privileged and marginalized groups.
Recognize how their status influences their worldview and provides advantages or disadvantages.
Maintain openness to learning about their cultural background and status.
2. Knowledge
Privileged and marginalized counselors understand their social identities and group statuses affecting power, privilege, and oppression.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Develop knowledge of resources to become aware of their biases and assumptions.
Understand the history shaping their status and the theoretical frameworks explaining influences from this status.
3. Skills
Privileged and marginalized counselors develop skills for understanding their social identities and statuses.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Acquire reflective and critical thinking skills for deeper insights into their experiences.
Develop communication, application, analytical, and evaluation skills related to their status.
4. Action
Privileged and marginalized counselors take proactive steps to enhance their self-awareness.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Engage in professional development to learn about their status.
Immerse themselves in their community to understand the dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression.
II. Client Worldview
Privileged and marginalized counselors must also be aware, knowledgeable, skilled, and action-oriented regarding clients’ worldviews.
1. Attitudes and Beliefs
Counselors must recognize clients’ histories, worldviews, cultural backgrounds, and values.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Acknowledge the importance of curiosity about clients’ experiences and identities.
Recognize that their learning about clients may involve discomfort and is a lifelong effort.
2. Knowledge
Counselors must understand the historical events and current issues affecting their clients.
They develop knowledge of:
Stereotypes, discrimination, and how these influence client experiences.
Multicultural and social justice theories, identity development models, and research related to clients’ backgrounds.
3. Skills
Counselors acquire culturally responsive skills to engage with clients' worlds effectively.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Use critical thinking, analysis, and reflection skills to interact with clients.
Develop cross-cultural communication skills to foster effective interactions.
4. Action
Counselors actively seek ways to understand clients’ experiences and worldviews.
They:
Engage in discussions and trainings regarding historical and current issues affecting clients.
Use multicultural theories in counseling practice to support client needs.
III. Counseling Relationship
Understanding how client and counselor statuses affect the therapeutic relationship is essential.
1. Attitudes and Beliefs
Counselors must be cognizant of how their and their clients' worldviews and statuses impact their interaction.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Acknowledge that various influences can enrich or challenge the relationship.
2. Knowledge
Counselors understand the interplay of different statuses in shaping the counseling relationship.
They develop knowledge of:
Identity development theories and their relevance to counseling.
Cultural influences that strengthen or weaken relations.
3. Skills
Counselors must acquire skills to assess and navigate the dynamics of the counseling relationship effectively.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Apply their understanding of cultural factors in practical scenarios.
4. Action
Counselors will take initiatives to explore these dynamics within the counseling context, fostering a supportive environment.
IV. Counseling and Advocacy Interventions
Counselors must address systemic and structural factors impacting marginalized and privileged clients.
A. Intrapersonal
Focus on the inner processes affecting individuals.
Multicultural and social justice competent counselors:
Utilize empowerment-based theories and assist clients in developing critical consciousness.
B. Interpersonal
Address the roles of relationships among individuals.
Counselors explore the impact of social relationships on client identity and support their development.
C. Institutional
Address inequities within social institutions such as education and organizations.
Counselors promote advocacy efforts to dismantle systemic barriers.
D. Community
Analyze norms at the community level that affect individual development.
Counselors conduct research and engage with the community to understand its impacts on clients.
E. Public Policy
Engage with laws and regulations that affect clients’ development.
Counselors advocate for equitable changes in policies.
F. International and Global Affairs
Address global events and systems influencing client well-being.
Counselors remain informed about international affairs affecting their clients.
This document provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies, highlighting the interplay of identity, culture, and advocacy in counseling practice.