Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice - Paper Example

Chapter 22, Counseling LGBT Individuals

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In chapter 22 we discuss the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender community (LGBT). Lesbians refer to women who are sexually attracted to women while gay, on the other hand, refers to men who are sexually attracted to other men. Bisexuals are individuals who are sexually attracted to people of their sex and those of the opposite sex. Transgender are those who possess a gender identity that is different from their assigned sex.

The society at times refers the LGBT community as the LGBTQ. They use the letter Q to refer to people who are queer or those questioning their sexuality. Different people have different views that are in support or against the LGBT community. The difference in view has created various debates relating to the rights of the individuals who make up the LGBT community. An example of a debate that has evolved in relation to this is the debate on whether transgender people should be allowed to join the army. Individuals who believe the transgender individuals should be allowed to join the army argue that because of the don't ask, don't tell policy they should be allowed to join the army. Those who are against their authorization, on the other hand, argue that they should not be allowed to join since they suffer from an identity disorder. The right of gays and lesbian to marry is another example of a relating issue that has been debated upon for a long time.

Statistics show that in America there are about 9 million people in the LGBT community and about 19 million Americans have engaged in same-sex behaviours. It also indicates that the population of individuals who are bisexuals is slightly larger than that of lesbians and gay with a majority being the women.

Chapter 23, Counseling Older Adult Clients

Chapter 23 highlights on the characteristics of the old adults. People's perception of old age varies. However, the society average perception of old age beginning is the age of 65. Romantic relations are common among the old, and thus this makes the perception that older adults are asexual incorrect. According to internet personal ads older men usually look for young women who are attractive while older women seek men who possess attractive status and security.

Currently, those individuals who are above the age of 65 years make up 16.2% of the population of the United States. This percentage is expected to have risen to about 20% by the year 2030. Many women live longer than men. Research shows that at the age of 85 years there about 39 men for every 100 women. The society we are currently living in is an ageing society. This means that the ratio of growth of the ageing population is high than that of the young generation. However, the society is not well prepared to cater for the ageing population. The older population is currently underserved and little is known in relation to the care that should be given to them on issues such as, therapy programs and the appropriate medication that is to be administered to the old. For example, the likeliness for an older woman receiving radiation and thermotherapy after a breast cancer surgery is very low.

The neglect of the old is quite surprising since they need the care more. A man who is for example 65 years has a 28% chance of living to 90 years. This show they need the care to ensure they live longer.

Chapter 24, Counseling Women

In this chapter, we learn of how the society holds a perception that undervalues women in comparison to the men. The chapter highlights various issues raised by the feminist who focuses on ensuring that there is equality between women and men in relation to the social, political, and economic rights and opportunities.

Currently, approximately 66% of the families in the United States depend on women for the provision of the necessary needs. 45% of these women say circumstances forced them to be their families care givers. In the year 2010, the population of the United States had about 156,964,211 females and 151,781,326 males. The population of women as compared to that of men is higher yet the women in the society are usually referred to as a member of the special population. They have been subjected to discrimination and prejudice through time thus leaving them at a disadvantageous state. High-level duties, leadership positions and jobs have been for a long time offered to incompetent men at the expense of qualified females. This is because women were viewed as emotional driven weak individuals who would not be able to lead appropriately. In most jobs female are usually under paid as compared to the males in the same position.

The focus of feminists movements has changed through time. The early feminists focused on the promotion of equality in matters such as voting and property owning rights. The modern day feminists, on the other hand, are currently focusing on the promotion of equal rights in matters such as the parental leave, reproductive rights, and psychosocial safety.

Chapter 25, Counseling and Poverty

The 25th chapter highlights on how an individual's social status may affect their health. The chapter effectively describes how the difference in class and background between a therapist and their patient may lead them to have a miss-communication between the two, thus leading them to prescribe solutions that may not help their client.

The differences in social status usually force people to have a difference in the views and interests that largely determine their personality and what they value. For example, while determining an issue relating to the mental health of an individual who is poor and of another who is wealthy. One would have to consider difference issues. For instance, in the case of the poor person, their issue may relate to factors that are in line with the fact that they find it difficult to meet their basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. It is paramount for a counselor to understand their patient for them to make the most appropriate judgment to the benefit of their patient. However, there is no specific traditional mental health strategy that counselors are required to follow.

To understand patients, the therapists are required to understand their patient's social, cultural, and interpersonal characteristics which are factors that determine lifestyle and social class. They should then relate their findings to the patient's problem. This would enable them to identify the individual's problem and thus they would prescribe solutions that would help elevate their oppression.

Chapter 26, Counseling Person with Disabilities

This chapter describes some of the challenges that individuals with a disability and those around them face will they interact with people in the society. Some of the problems addressed in the chapter are such as the difficulty in communication, mistaken identity, verbal and physical abuse, discrimination, and pity. These challenges usually make the persons with a disability very uncomfortable since it often shows that they are not humans.

People with disability are often called various hurtful names in reference to their state. Brain dead, gimp, cripple, and lame are some of the names that a mother of a child with Down syndrome said people call those with this form of disability. These names are demoralizing and usually relay the message that those who have a form of disability are inferior human beings. One man who became disabled in the year 1988 said his disability changed his life. He accounts that most of his friends could not easily recognize him to the point that he had to approach them and call out their names for them to know it was him. The man also said he is often mistakenly identified by strangers who liken him to people they knew who also had a disability that was similar to the one he has.

The example of a 77-year-old woman who was on kidney dialysis, with seizures, arthritis, and hearing loss shows how persons with disability face difficulties when they are trying to communicate their problem. This woman, for example, is forced to go with her daughter to the hospital so that the daughter may inform the doctors of the symptoms of her mother's illness. This usually creates a state of confusion to the mother since she struggles to hear what the doctors say of in regards to what she is suffering from.