Multicultural Competence

When I first entered this program, I had a limited awareness of not only the depth of other cultures, but also of my own. In many ways, I was living in a false sense of reality—one shaped by privilege and comfort, and viewed through rose-colored glasses. I  viewed everyone as equals and discounted differences, with the belief that "we all bleed the same." I was aware that injustice and oppression existed both globally and in my own country, but I hadn’t fully grasped the depth or pervasiveness of these issues. Although I felt sympathy for those impacted by systemic inequalities and would occasionally share advocacy messages on social media, that was often the extent of my engagement. I had not yet critically examined how I personally benefit from systems of privilege, nor had I explored how deeply these systems shape the lived experiences of others.

It wasn’t until I took the Multicultural Counseling course that my perspective began to shift. That class was truly a transformative experience. For the first time, I was challenged to engage in deep, uncomfortable, and necessary self-reflection. Through our assigned readings, group discussions, and class projects, I gained a more nuanced understanding of cultural identity and the impacts of systemic oppression. These discussions often brought up difficult but meaningful conversations, and participating in them allowed me to expand my worldview by hearing directly from peers with different lived experiences. Our class assignments helped me explore these issues more deeply and pushed me to think critically about how my own cultural lens influences the way I view and interact with others. I found myself reflecting on my own cultural identity and began to better understand it and embrace it, while also acknowledging my own privileges and challenging personal assumptions and biases I hadn’t previously confronted. I finally began to understand the importance of cultural humility in myself and in clinical work. This class introduced me to the complexity and richness of cultural identities and how they intersect with race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and ability. I began to understand how these identities can influence individuals’ values, beliefs, and worldviews. I also came to understand that cultural identity is not static, but fluid and evolving, and that counselors must remain attuned to these dynamics when working with clients.

What struck me most was realizing how unaware I had been of the severity of the oppression and trauma many marginalized communities endure. It was far more layered and painful than I had previously understood. This awareness not only deepened my empathy, but also sparked a strong sense of responsibility to become a more culturally responsive and socially just counselor. I learned about the importance of multicultural competence and that it is an ongoing commitment to self-awareness, humility, and advocacy. I learned how essential it is to broach culture in the counseling relationship and to create space for clients to explore the ways their cultural identities intersect with their mental health, their sense of self, and their lived experiences.

Through my internship, I have had the opportunity to apply these principles in my clinical work. I have worked with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, many of whom have experienced poverty, displacement, trauma, or systemic discrimination. Early on, I was nervous about bringing up culture in sessions, afraid I of saying the wrong thing or overstepping. I still experience discomfort at times. But through practice and reflection, I’ve come to understand that avoiding these conversations can reinforce silence and invisibility and diminish the therapeutic relationship. When done with care and openness, broaching cultural identity can deepen trust, foster understanding, and promote healing.

I now view multicultural competence as a lifelong journey. It requires ongoing education, reflection, humility, and the willingness to understand. My growth in this area has made me not only a more compassionate counselor, but also a more self-aware human being. I am committed to continuing this work- to listen, learn, challenge my assumptions or biases, and to advocate for equity within and beyond the counseling space.