The Influence of Culturally Bound Syndromes and Worldview on the Counseling Relationship
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders includes a section that highlights diagnoses that are specific to a particular culture. If a disorder is prevalent among the majority of members of a particular culture, can a counselor assume a client from that culture is likely to incur that disorder? Some have argued that culture-specific diagnoses are actually a barrier to multicultural counseling. To what extent do a counselor’s cultural biases create barriers in counseling?
For this Discussion, review the assigned Learning Resources for this week and refer to Table 10.1: Culture Bound Syndromes from the DSM-IV-TR in the Sue and Sue course text. Then, with culturally bound syndromes in mind, consider how a counselor’s worldview could influence the diagnosis of a client or the interpretation of the symptoms a client experiences.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 3 one way a counselor’s cultural worldview might affect his or her assessment and diagnosis of a client’s situation.way a counselor’s cultural worldview might affect his or her assessment and diagnosis of a client’s situation. In addition, explain how assumptions based solely on culture could adversely influence the client and the counseling relationship.
Support your responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and current literature.
