Skip to main content
Log in

International Counseling Trainees’ Experiences and Perceptions of Their Multicultural Counseling Training in the United States: A Mixed Method Inquiry

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined international counseling students’ (ICTs) experiences and perceptions of their multicultural counseling training (MCT) in the United States. The focus was on (a) relevance of the training, (b) effectiveness of the training methods, and (c) development of cross-cultural competence as trainees. Major findings indicated that ICTs found their MCT to be more useful in the areas of knowledge and awareness rather than in skill development. Dissatisfaction was expressed with training received; limited applicability to country of origin was noted. MCT in the US appears to reflect primarily a Westernized approach to teaching and learning related competencies. Implications and recommendations for counselors and educators are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2009). Guidelines and principles for accreditation of programs in professional psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/guiding-principles.pdf.

  • Bogdan, R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (1992). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, M. N. (2006). Critical incidents in multicultural training: An examination of student experiences. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 34, 168–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (2009). 2009 standards. Retrieved from http://www.cacrep.org/2009standards.pdf.

  • Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. (1978). Sociological Methods: A Sourcebook (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Andrea, M., Daniels, J., & Heck, R. (1991). Evaluating the impact of multicultural counseling training. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukuyama, M. A., & Sevig, T. D. (1999). Integrating spirituality into multicultural counseling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glasser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago, IL: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Killian, K. D. (2001). Differences making a difference: Cross-cultural interactions in supervisor relationships. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 12, 61–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, P., & Emener, W. G. (1999). International vistas for counseling. In C. G. Dixon & W. G. Emener (Eds.), Professional counseling: Transitioning into the next millennium (pp. 136–153). Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manese, J. E., Wu, J. T., & Nepomuceno, C. A. (2001). The effect of training on multicultural counseling competencies: An exploratory study over a ten-year period. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 29, 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mezirow, J. (1981). A critical theory of adult learning and education. Adult Education Quarterly, 32, 3–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittal, M., & Wieling, E. (2006). Training experiences of international doctoral students in marriage and family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 32, 369–383.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, J., & Lee, Y.-T. (2004). Issues of language and culture in family therapy training. Contemporary Family Therapy, 26, 307–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, I., & Benz, C. (1998). Qualitative-quantitative research methodology: Exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, K. M. (2006a). Counselor educators’ perceptions of and experiences with international counseling students: An online exploratory study. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 28, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng, K. M. (2006b). International students in CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory, and Research., 34, 20–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, K. M., & Smith, S. D. (2009). Perceptions and experiences of international students in counseling and related programs. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 31, 57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, J. E., & Anderson, M. Z. (2004). Supervising international students: The role of acculturation, role ambiguity, and multicultural discussions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 306–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paige, R. M. (1990). International students: Cross-cultural psychological perspectives. In R. W. Brislin (Ed.), Applied cross-cultural psychology (pp. 161–185). Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattison, S. (2003). Cultural diversity: Mapping the experiences of students on an international counselor training programme. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 3, 107–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priester, P. E., Jones, J. E., Jackson-Bailey, C. M., Jana-Masri, A., Jordan, E., & Metz, A. J. (2008). An analysis of content and instructional strategies in multicultural counseling courses. Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, 36, 29–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponterotto, J. G., Alexander, C. M., & Grieger, I. (1995). A multicultural competence checklist for counseling programs. Journal of Counseling & Development, 65, 430–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponterotto, J. G., Rieger, B. P., Barrett, A., & Sparks, R. (1994). Assessing multicultural competence: A review of instrumentation. Journal of Counseling & Development, 72, 316–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pope-Davis, D. B., Breaux, C., & Liu, W. M. (1997). A multicultural immersion experience: Filling the void in multicultural training. In D. B. Pope-Davis (Ed.), Multicultural counseling competencies: Assessment, education and training, and supervision (pp. 227–241). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

  • Pope-Davis, D. B., Liu, W. M., Nevitt, J., & Toporek, R. L. (2000). The development and initial validation of the Multicultural Environmental Inventory: A preliminary investigation. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 6, 57–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, R. R., & Wall, N. E. (2000). Culturally educated questioning: Towards a skills-based approach in multicultural counselor training. Applied & Preventive Psychology, 9, 89–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roysircar, G., Sandhu, D. S., & Bibbins, V. E., Sr. (eds). (2003). Multicultural competencies: A guide-book of practices. Alexandria, VA: Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.

  • Sevig, T., & Etzkorn, J. (2001). Transformative training: A year-long multicultural counseling seminar for graduate students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 29, 57–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., Arredondo, P., & McDavis, R. J. (1992). Multicultural competencies and standards: A call to the profession. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70, 477–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson-Clarke, S. (2000). Assessing outcomes in a multicultural training course: A qualitative study. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 13, 221–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toporek, R. L. (2001). Context is a critical dimension of multicultural counseling: Articulating personal, professional, and institutional competence. Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, 29, 13–31.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shannon D. Smith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, S.D., Ng, KM. International Counseling Trainees’ Experiences and Perceptions of Their Multicultural Counseling Training in the United States: A Mixed Method Inquiry. Int J Adv Counselling 31, 271–285 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-009-9083-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-009-9083-3

Keywords

Navigation