In this blog, we will continue our conversation about considerations for Latino clients by discussing religiosity, child rearing and immigration status. This is the third entry in a series of blogs addressing multicultural issues in counseling.
Please note that this series is not meant to cover all facets of multiculturalism, but rather to provide some useful information and give you a “head start” in your counseling career. Another important thing to remember is that minority groups are heterogeneous. For example, Latinos can be Mexican, Cuban, Spanish or Puerto Rican. Therefore, these are things that may be true, but, as with other categories in counseling, it is dangerous to make assumptions.
One important area of consideration is religiosity. More specifically, “There is a strong belief in fatalism” (Sue & Sue, 2008, p. 382). Because they may feel resigned to their fate, many Latinos may have trouble behaving assertively. As a result, they may not be able to advocate for themselves or their children. Thus, this cultural group is more vulnerable to mistreatment.
Another important area of consideration is child rearing. Latinos tend to be authoritative with their children. Children are expected to respect adults, and be obedient. Some families use physical punishment to reinforce obedience, so clearly explaining the limits of confidentiality at the beginning of the counseling process is recommended.
Lastly, another important consideration is immigration status. Because a high percentage of Hispanics are here illegally (estimated at 11 million in 2001 according to p. 376 of Sue & Sue), this group fears deportation- not a consideration for many of the other minority groups. Also, this group may be at an additional disadvantage because of a possible language barrier. Families often rely on children to translate, which can result in the child becoming frustrated (Bean, Perry & Bedell, 2001). This further complicates the issues that this group faces.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barb LoFrisco
References
Bean, R. A., Perry, B. J., Bedell, T. M. (2001). Developing culturally competent marriage and family therapists: Guidelines for working with Hispanic families. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27(1), 43 54.
Sue, W. G., & Sue, D. (2008). Counseling the Culturally Diverse.
Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Also check:
• https://mastersincounseling.org/psychology/18-beautiful-infographics-about-the-human-brain/
• https://mastersincounseling.org/education/what-you-need-to-know-about-federal-student-aid/
• https://mastersincounseling.org/counseling/essential-tips/
