Abstract
The mental health professions need to reconceptualize multicultural counseling competence and innovate their models in order to provide better guidance to their professionals. To this end, we first redefine multicultural counseling competence with the goal of overcoming its pervasive definitional problems. We then propose the process model of multicultural counseling competence, which aims to rectify the limitations of the existing models. Our model integrates strengths of the three major models—skills-based, adaptation, and process-oriented—while also adding new components. Seven foundational principles undergird our complex and dynamic model. The model consists of three distinct phases: preparation, intake and in-sessions, and termination. In addition, the model consists of five clinical operations. The superordinate operation is deep-structure incorporation of culture. Subordinating to and rotating around this superordinate operation are: infusing preparation, developing a therapeutic alliance, adapting interventions, and evaluating process and outcome. Although these clinical operations interact dynamically at multiple levels within the model, the ultimate purpose is still the attainment of positive therapeutic outcomes.
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