Coun6723 Week 9 Discussion: The Influence of Culturally Bound Syndromes and

Coun 6723 Week 9 Discussion: 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 one 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.

Readings

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

• “Cultural Formation” (pp. 749 –759)

Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

• Chapter 5, “The Impact of Systemic Oppression: Counselor Credibility and Client Worldviews” (pp. 145-177)
• Chapter 7, “Barriers to Multicultural Counseling and Therapy: Individual and Family Perspectives” (pp. 215-249)
• Chapter 8, “Communication Styles and Its Impact on Counseling and Psychotherapy” (pp. 251-281)
• Chapter 10, “Non-Western Indigenous Methods of Healing: Implications for Multicultural Counseling and Therapy” (pp. 321-351)
• Chapter 13, “Culturally Competent Assessment” (pp. 429-455)