Acculturation involves changes in many aspects of immigrants’ lives, such as language, cultural identity, attitudes and values, ethnic pride, types of food and music preferred, media use, social and ethnic relations, cultural familiarity, and social customs (Korngold, 2009). Acculturation may occur in stages, with immigrants learning the new language first, followed by gradual participation in the new culture (Korngold, 2009). While some settings, such as workplaces or schools, are predominantly culturally American, others, such as an immigrant’s ethnic neighborhood and home environment, predominantly comprise the heritage culture (Korngold, 2009). Many immigrants and refugees are also unaware that there are professionals, such as counselors, who can help them navigate this strange new landscape (Korngold, 2009). Those who work with these populations say that as part of the cultural diversity that the counseling profession has embraced, counselors have a responsibility to help immigrants and refugees with everyday challenges associated with community, school, work, health care, and other systems. Therefore, as a mental health professional, you must adopt an open mind regarding the immigration experiences the individuals have. Challenges Immigrant communities encounter many challenges, including discrimination, such as being told to “go back to your own country,” language difficulties as many immigrants do not speak English upon their arrival, lower access to healthcare due to lower-paying jobs without benefits, and visa issues as some immigrants are undocumented, among many others (NAMI, 2019). There is also the added challenge of isolation from the larger national community. Many immigrant families live close to their immigrant community, which may reinforce a sense of separation (NAMI, 2019). Coping with these challenges can lead to mental health issues or mental illness, particularly for those with a pre-existing biological vulnerability to a mental illness. Common stereotypes of immigrants that they are less educated, more blue-collar, and more conservative can adversely impact mental health (NAMI, 2019). To avoid these perceptions, immigrants may feel a need to disassociate from their immigrant community. This may lead to a loss of network support, a risk factor for mental health issues (NAMI, 2019). Immigrants may not feel accepted in the U.S. Finding their “tribe” and developing an identity could be a long and challenging process, complicated and troublesome for mental health. A sense of belonging can be critical to good mental health. A lack of cultural competency and confidence is also a challenge for immigrants. Many immigrants and refugees report that when they have discussed their cultural upbringing and experiences with practitioners, they have been minimized, misunderstood, and dismissed (NAMI, 2019). The challenges are even more significant for those who cannot speak when and when they see a doctor or therapist; expressing emotions in their nonnative language can be challenging (NAMI, 2019). Translation can help, but a therapist might provide a more robust understanding of cultural context to help a patient. Different dialects can also complicate translation. Many immigrants are far less likely to seek treatment or trust a healthcare provider due to a lack of cultural understanding and competency. Cultural competence involves learning and maturation processes related to children’s inborn unique capacity to adapt to various social and cultural circumstances, including
bi- and multicultural contexts. By mentally switching between different cultural codes (scripts or schemas), they accommodate their behaviors to the demands of the context. Counselors’ understanding of the differential treatment of current and past immigrant groups based on their ethnic, racial, religious, and linguistic backgrounds is paramount to their knowledge of their clients. How individuals and groups are treated from a sociopolitical (macro) level and a daily individual interactional level (micro) affects their views and understanding of the world in which they live. From a person-in-environment perspective, individuals act upon the environment, and the environment acts and reacts to the individual. Thus, while individuals help shape the environment around them, the environment also shapes the individual (Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, & Hessenauer, 2019). A demographic breakdown of the diversity in the U.S. is provided in Table 1. This breakdown may help counselors better conceptualize clients’ diverse experiences. Table 1 summarizes the U.S. population by race/ethnicity. Table 1: U.S. Population by Ethnicity and Race: 2020 Race/Ethnicity Percentage White 57.8% Hispanic 18.7% Black 12.4% Asian 6% Note : Adapted from US Census: US sees unprecedented multiracial growth, the decline in the White population for first time in history. USA TODAY. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/ politics/2021/08/12/how-2020-census-change-how-we-look- america-what-expect/5493043001/ Clinicians must be careful not to make sweeping generalizations regarding any population. For instance, Latin American immigrants (the most significant number of immigrants in 2010) come from many countries: 29.3% from Mexico, 7.6% from other Central American countries, and 9.3% from the Caribbean Islands (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Further, clients are influenced by various factors, including the level of acculturation (to be discussed later), immigration experience, experiences with discrimination, and ability to speak English. Therefore, clinicians must ask clients about their personal experiences and significant life events. Some cultural generalizations may help clinicians increase their knowledge of specific cultures and enhance their understanding of a portion of clients’ differing experiences. However, this is not intended to shift the clinician’s focus away from developing a better understanding of the dynamics of race, immigration, and other facets of diversity within the current social, economic, and political environment of the U.S. Clinicians are better prepared to understand and understand and help the natural climate in which their diverse clients live and that climate’s role in accommodating or marginalizing them. Moreover, it will be better for counselors to help their clients if they understand how they are accommodated and marginalized by American culture. Race, ethnicity, and immigration status are a few facets of diversity affecting clients. Diversity includes socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and gender identification. These facets of diversity can serve as dimensions that marginalize and oppress individuals.
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Book Code: PYCA2725
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