Cultural and linguistic competence: Welcome challenges from successful diversification

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice

Volume

41

Issue

3

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Publication Date

6-1-2010

First Page

210

Last Page

220

Abstract

The increasing numbers of ethnically diverse professionals is filling a need for service provision in agencies that provide mental health services for a diverse clientele. However, the rapid shift in professional demographics provides a sharp generational contrast; these emerging psychologists are placed in potentially ethically charged positions before their careers truly begin as a result of the gap between institutional resources (materials and supervisors) and trainees' specialized needs. The lead article reviews a broad array of points to consider when a supervisee is providing services in the native language of the client and does not know that language. The three invited commentaries highlight (a) the role of language in emotion and subsequent implications for treatment and supervision, (b) the slow institutional development to meet the training needs of emerging therapists that will treat ethnically diverse clients, and (c) the importance of following decision-making models to inform ethical supervisory practice when there is a language mismatch.

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