Career practitioners use reflection as a key tool to evaluate our practice. It is only by using a frame to help us look inward that we can really 'see' how we practice, and how we can improve. We can help ourselves to become better at what we do, and therefore serve our clients better.
The same applies to the cultural influences around us: we need to reflect on what cultural practices affect us, and what the implications are for both ourselves and our clients. In considering how some theories change cultural aspects of practice, culturally infused career counseling (CCIC) encourages us to purposefully and consciously infuse our practice with cultural awareness (Arthur & Collins, 2011). As generally "cultural influences are inextricably woven into people’s career development", so are often invisible to us, the model uses a three pronged approach. It uses: those of practitioner "self-awareness"; and the "awareness of the cultures of other people" such as our clients; "and [the] awareness of the influences of culture on the working alliance" between ourselves and our client (2011, p. 147)
There are six "guiding assumptions" for this model, those of:
- Determining what culture is relevant for our client; what will make our client comfortable, and what will facilitate good decision making. Some of our clients may be negotiating multiple cultural identities, and we need to take the time to help our client find their fit... while realising that that fit may not be with us. "Clients with multiple nondominant identities may be further challenged in navigating community, organization, or other social systems" (Arthur & Collins, 2011, p. 147).
- Knowing ourselves, and understand what our cultural identity is as a career practitioner. Our personal social and professional construction influences our own ideas of work, roles, study and career. We need to be able to let the client lead the way without our influence making their choices for them.
- Understanding our own societal context. Our collective "views of career and career issues are culturally defined" as is "career development" a social construct (Arthur & Collins, 2011, p. 147). Work may be about putting food on the table: it may be about personal reward, and no one thing is more 'right' than another for our client. We need to understand what "work [means] in [other] people’s lives to ensure culturally relevant interventions (Arthur & Collins, 2011, p. 147)
- Understanding the cultural assumptions underlying the career development theories we are proposing to use with our client. Often "cultural validity of theories and models [are] based on Western values and tenets, such as individualism and autonomy, the centrality of the work role, affluence, and the linearity or progressive nature of career development" which may lack fit with the values of more relational societies (Arthur & Collins, 2011, pp. 147-148)
- Determining the goals of our sessions together before beginning work. Be deliberate in asking what the client expects to get, who they want to be involved in the process, how far along the path they are. This is not only good practice for ALL our sessions, but should be so pervasive to not have to even be mentioned as a step (Arthur & Collins, 2011).
- Challenging ourselves "to incorporate multiple levels of intervention", to "address systemic change or advocate for [...] social justice issues in people’s career development" (Arthur & Collins, 2011, p. 148).
I hope this helps!
Sam
References:
Arthur, N., & Collins, S. (2011). Infusing culture in career counseling. Journal of Employment Counseling, 48(4), 147-149. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb01098.x
Truyens, M. (2021). Culture Infused Career Counselling Model (CICC): Nancy Arthur 2013. https://marcr.net/marcr-for-career-professionals/career-theory/career-theories-and-theorists/culture-infused-counselling-theory-cicc-nancy-arthur/
Valdez, N. (25 June 2013). Culture Infused Career Counselling: A model for counsellors and clients. Canadian Education and Research in Career Counselling (CERIC). https://ceric.ca/2013/06/culture-infused-career-counselling-a-model-for-counsellors-and-clients/
Reflection is such a vital part of career practice. It's interesting to see how this approach can also apply to NDIS employment counselling. By regularly evaluating their methods, career practitioners can enhance their ability to support clients effectively, ensuring that cultural considerations are integrated into their practice. This not only improves client outcomes but also enriches the overall counselling experience.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post, Emman. And for anyone else wanting to know about the Australian site that Emman has linked to, go to https://personnelgroup.com.au/employment/ndis-employment-support/
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