Introduction
Sometimes dual relationships happen in counseling, as dictated by several factors within the counselor framework. For example, a counselor may establish that the client is a neighbor or acquainted with a family friend. Regardless of any prevailing situation, counselors need to be aware of cultural beliefs and diversity. Moreover, it is important understand clients’ backgrounds and use the code of ethics (Sue et al., 2022). Concurrently, a competent professional will use their expertise and aforementioned cognizance as a guide in planning counselor-client relationship during and after counseling. Although several views exist in the psycho-social understanding of counseling sessions, maintaining professional conduct is always essential in dealing with such associations.
Relationships during Counseling
The primary goal of a counselor is to understand the client and initiate a way to help them recover from their challenges. However, the guide should also be aware of themselves before they seek to help others in society. In essence, analysts with self-awareness will understand the kind of behaviors allowed in a counseling session and the norms and procedures in counseling. Thus, the specialists will not engage in behaviors that disrespect the client. Instead, the counselor will understand the benefits of backgrounds while exploring how the two should co-exist for wellness (Sue et al., 2022). In addition, appreciating one another’s diversity will make it easier to know what language to use in communication. In return, cultural diversity and the implications of various languages could become sustainable.
Ideally, some behaviors may interfere with a new client’s perception and interpretation if they come from a different cultural background. Therefore, a counselor should execute precautions in dealing with such clients in a counseling session. For instance, it may not be appropriate to engage in specific facial body language, if their interpretation may be culturally diverse, because a client may need clarification on the message, which could ruin their relationships with the counselor in most instances. Likewise, when a counselor often avoids non-verbal cues like eye contact, the patient may fail to trust, ultimately affecting their relationship.
Some counselors may rush clients because they need to be more comfortable with their language and cultural differences. Such actions may then prove detrimental to the advising sessions because the consumer might lose trust in the psychoanalyst and withdraw their interest in such services. However, these first-time impressions and understandings are vital in establishing long-lasting relationships between the patient and the psychoanalyst because they establish the communication foundation. At the same time, these relationships are pivotal because they help the two establish a good working environment that will improve the benefits of counseling sessions. Globally, different cultures have varying methods of showing emotions that may not concur with each other. Thus, it is vital to understand the cultural dynamics as crucial players in social relationships with one another.
Moreover, a counselor can make clients from other cultures feel safe using several techniques. For instance, being courteous and allowing space to clients may help them feel understood and part of the whole session. During the sessions, a competent counselor can show acceptable body language and communication signs to show the client that their views are necessary and acceptable because they listen to one another in the program. At some point, it is essential to appreciate cultural diversity and inform the client that there is not to help one another understand certain aspects of their cultural differences.
Indeed, working with clients from multicultural backgrounds needs a counselor who knows the facets of cultural diversity. Therefore, the first aspect is to explore why the client seeks counseling programs with the counselor. This will help define what is applicable in the cultures at stake. Also, the coach must identify the main problems affecting their client to establish amicable solutions for growth and development. After that, striking a clear path of understanding with the client will become more accessible and sustainable in the long run.
Relationship after Counseling
After counseling, acceptance should be a fundamental component of success. Some counselors will detach their minds from their client to handle a new one while the client needs to appreciate the program’s benefits to their welfare. Concurrently, world views, cultures, ethnicity, and privileges will affect client and counselor relationships. Once the two establish a sustainable framework for growth and development, counselors will make the assumptions that other factors will fall in place as a result of the client’s role in self-reflection. Subsequently, the two will now have sufficient cultural competence that includes cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills that help in communication. With better worldviews, cultural knowledge, and identities, both counselors can make better decisions on dual relationships as guided by the outcome of the counseling sessions.
Conclusion
To conclude, all counselors should be culturally competent to sustain their service delivery in a diverse environment. At the same time, the dynamics of cultural counseling require a multifaceted approach to reach many clients in societies. Therefore, effective relationships in counseling should be anchored on social change, sensitivity, and shared power between the counselor and the counseled because they coherently require one another for existence.
Reference
Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.