Cultural and Contextual Considerations
Mental health professional’s appreciation for culture and context extend beyond general understandings of people grouped by factors like ethnicity and sexual orientation. Mental health professionals invest in understanding the deep, underlying components of all the things that come together to make our clients who they are. When culture and context are at odds with societal norms and hegemonic expectations, mental health professionals may need to work with clients to help instill and utilize resources to cope with the possibility of negative messages from society. In addition, mental health professionals work together with clients, for clients, and with other professionals to make changes. Consider how collaborating with others promotes positive changes in client well-being. How might collaboration through advocacy result in alternative approaches for addressing cultural or contextual considerations in treatment recommendations? For this Discussion, view the media “Multicultural and Contextual Considerations Case Study: Marisol” in the Learning Resources. Consider new and alternative methods that mental health professionals could use to advocate for Marisol.
Discussion 2
Post an explanation of how you would advocate for clients like Marisol. Explain at least one strategy as a mental health professional you could facilitate culturally and contextually ethical treatment of clients. Support your strategy with evidence from the Walden Library.
Offering an additional strategy your colleague could use to facilitate culturally and contextually ethical treatment of clients