_____________________________________ Setting Ethical Limits: For Caring and Competent Professionals
(d) Social workers who use technology in the provision of social work services should ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide such services in a competent manner. This includes an understanding of the special communication challenges when using technology and the ability to implement strategies to address these challenges. (e) Social workers who use technology in providing social work services should comply with the laws governing technology and social work practice in the jurisdiction in which they are regulated and located and, as applicable, in the jurisdiction in which the client is located. CULTURAL COMPETENCE A general (aspirational) principle articulated in the APA’s ethics code addresses respect for people’s rights and dignity. The principle states, in part, that [3]: Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status and consider these factors when working with members of such groups. Psychologists try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices. CODE OF ETHICS OF THE NASW 1.05 Cultural Competence (a) Social workers should demonstrate understanding of culture and its function in human behavior and society, recognizing the strengths that exist in all cultures. (b) Social workers should demonstrate knowledge that guides practice with clients of various cultures and be able to demonstrate skills in the provision of culturally informed services that empower marginalized individuals and groups. Social workers must take action against oppression, racism, discrimination, and inequities, and acknowledge personal privilege. (c) Social workers should demonstrate awareness and cultural humility by engaging in critical self-reflection (understanding their own bias and engaging in self- correction), recognizing clients as experts of their own culture, committing to lifelong learning, and holding institutions accountable for advancing cultural humility. (d) Social workers should obtain education about and demonstrate understanding of the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief,
religion, immigration status, and mental or physical ability. (e) Social workers who provide electronic social work services should be aware of cultural and socioeconomic differences among clients’ use of and access to electronic technology and seek to prevent such potential barriers. Social workers should assess cultural, environmental, economic, mental or physical ability, linguistic, and other issues that may affect the delivery or use of these services. Although counselors are not expected to know about every nuance of each culture they serve, it is important to be open to learning about diverse cultural backgrounds in order to provide empathic, competent care. It is also important to be aware of culture-specific religious or spiritual practices that are regarded as healing forces in the client’s world. Achieving this awareness may involve researching the client’s culture and inquiring about their culture-specific healing practices in a manner that respects the client’s dignity and privacy [3]. It is always the professional’s goal to do no harm. As previously stated, professionals must “try to eliminate the effect on their work of [their] biases” and address them outside the therapeutic time with a trusted colleague or supervisor [3].
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CULTURALLY COMPETENT COUNSELOR
Three characteristics of a culturally competent counselor have been described. First, a culturally competent counselor is actively engaged in the process of becoming aware of his or her assumptions about human behavior, values, biases, preconceived notions, and personal limitations [9]. This is an ongoing process of self-discovery that requires the willingness to address any issues that may arise. For example, because the concept of boundaries varies across cultures, therapeutic elements related to boundaries should be modified to adapt to this variance. The expectation of confidentiality also varies, so the counselor should not assume that confidentiality is implicitly restricted to the counselor and client. In many cultures, confidentiality is neither expected nor therapeutic [10]. Being culturally competent also requires vigilance and an understanding that referral to another counselor might be necessary in some circumstances (i.e., when working with a particular client is beyond the counselor’s boundaries of competence) [9]. Next, a culturally competent counselor actively attempts to understand the worldview of a culturally different client by employing empathy and avoiding negative judgments [9]. This involves becoming familiar with the culture, subculture, and political history of the client when these differ from those of the counselor. This yields valuable rewards and is useful in avoiding the common therapeutic blunder of overgeneralization [10]. For example, knowing the client’s ethnicity, political affiliation in their country of origin, religious beliefs, and expectations of gender roles all contribute to providing the counselor a more
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