Creative Commons License
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Date of Graduation
Spring 2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Educational Specialist (EdS)
Department
Department of Graduate Psychology
Advisor(s)
A. Renee Staton
Debbie C. Sturm
Lennis G. Echterling
Abstract
With a history of attention being paid to multicultural counseling competencies as important attributes for a counselor to have to work with diverse clients, new counselors are challenged to prepare for working with these clients. Lee (2006) found that multiculturally competent professionals possess the awareness, knowledge, and skills to work with diverse communities. New counselors need to develop the knowledge, skills and awareness to competently work with diverse clients. There are multiple training methods suggested to support the development of these counseling competencies including Contact Hypothesis, cross-cultural interaction and cultural immersion. This article focuses on one graduate student’s background and recent strides to incorporate these training methods as a way to become multiculturally competent. The article follows how the student uses her background and recent cross-cultural experiences to inform her of her knowledge, skills and awareness of working with diverse communities. The author then concludes with her integrating current research with her experiences to provide insights about the process of becoming multiculturally competent. The author outlines practical suggestions for future research in the area of becoming multiculturally competent.
Recommended Citation
Lockaby, Sharon D., "Small steps and long strides: Personal reflections and insights on becoming multiculturally competent" (2013). Educational Specialist, 2009-2019. 61.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/edspec201019/61
