Emerging Issues

Emerging Issues

PSYCH/535 - Multicultural Psychology

University of Phoenix

Emerging Issues

Society today is being affected by emerging issues in multiculturalism. Professionals in the health care industry are facing the realization that there are many new challenges and changes they need to make in order to provide for their patients needs. Individuals are also changing by becoming more aware multiculturally issues of the uniquely diverse groups and societies that live and work together in our diverse society. Two of the many emerging issues would be counseling for health care professionals and multicultural identity.

Counseling

Professionals face the issue of how to have practices that are successful. To make this happen they work with clients from many different backgrounds, and ethnic cultures. Psychologist, counselors, and mental health care professionals must deal with the ever changing and demanding issues that are faced in a multicultural society (Sue & Sue, 2008). Individuals from different cultures present challenges for counselors and therapists because they have different cultural views and backgrounds as well as the constant changing of needs and help within the industry (Hall, 2010).

Here in the United States cultures are becoming intertwined and professionals face issues helping individuals deal with culturally related problems and backgrounds. Professionals should have a thorough understanding of their own concept of cultural issues, beliefs and backgrounds before trying to help others with their issues, beliefs and backgrounds. When professionals are comfortable and understand with their own beliefs, then learning about cultures other than their own can be done without casting judgment or bias. If the counselor has a limited amount of training in dealing with multicultural counseling, it is very likely that they will lack the skills required to ethically present ideas that will help those with multicultural backgrounds (Clauss-Ehlers, 2013).

Today, Professionals face the issue of differences in culture and race. There are some people of the same race that have different cultural beliefs and practices which makes it hard for professionals to understand what is going on with the client because the professional his viewing the cleint from the stand point of his race. For example, the Hispanic race has different cultures that include Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican (Clauss-Ehlers, 2013). To meet the needs of the cleint all professional must gather detailed information that includes diagnosis, notes, and medical evaluations. Without proper knowledge of multicultural issues a professionals could misdiagnosis with could lead to negative outcomes and misunderstanding with the cleint. This can have a big impact on societry when the professional is not fully trained or capable of dealing with today's emerging issues (Hall, 2010).

If clients are not properly treated their lives