Metacognition and Multicultural Competence

To become a culturally competent counselor, Byars-Winston and Fouad, along with others cited in the article, remind us that we need to be aware of our own cultural lens. Although I did not grow up in a culterally diverse area, my preferred mode of interacting thus far has been to approach everyone from a similar perspective, with the goal of getting to know someone on a deeper level before making assumptions about how they operate. I assume that I would approach my role as a counselor in a similar fashion. It was interesting to read the perspectives of the authors then who assert that the "relevance of career interventions in general can be increased by approaches that take into account the sociocultural, historical, and political factors that shappe career development for culturally diverse groups and significantly influence their view of themselves and their view of the world" (Byars-Winston and Fouad, 2006, p. 187). The authors also further delineate a prescriptive model for intervention, which includes establishing a relationship, identification of issues, assessment of cultural values, goal-setting, interventions, and plan implementation and follow-up (p. 193). In each of these areas, counselors are encouraged to examine their knowledge (or lack thereof) of their clients' background and determine how these assumptions influence the interventions they choose, engaging in a continuous cycle of self-reflection. I definitely see value in the CACCM model, although the process seems mentally exhausting as you attend to the client's needs while also monitoring your own thoughts and feelings constantly. Engaging in too much of this internal monologue may even be detrimental as it takes too much of the focus off of the client. However, as you continue to practice this model with additional clients, you will get a better sense of what strategies are more effective with particular groups, and attaining the metacognitive awareness level will start to become second nature. Byars-Winston, A. M., & Fouad, N. A. (2006). Metacognition and multicultural competence: Expanding the culturally appropriate career counseling model. The career development quarterly, 54, 187-201.