Counseling and Development in a Multicultural Society

A respected, broad-based text, unique in its broad focus on the social, historical, and developmental aspects of different cultures, the third edition of John Axelson's popular book gives students a multifaceted understanding of people and issues affecting multicultural counseling in contemporary America. Comprehensive and objective, the book's topics have been selected and integrated from a variety of disciplines (psychology, anthropology, sociology, political science, and history) to offer today's human service professionals a realistic look at cultures in contemporary America, and the practice of counseling.

• 300 new references and demographic data bring the book completely up-to-date.
• A thoroughly revised/updated Chapter One now includes the cultural dynamics of individual and ethnic group inclusion experiences within American society.
• An extensively revised Chapter 2 now contains discussion of models for self-identity development.
• New materials on cultural universals and human nature, including the evolutionary psychology paradigm, have been added.
• The synergetic synthesis of counseling theory with cultural, environmental, and biological/genetic explanations of life's complexity has been expanded.
• This uniquely broad-based, objective, and comprehensive approach to counseling in America's culturally diverse society helps students to develop eclectic understanding; to move away from single points of view, explanations, and theories; and to gain heightened awareness of themselves and others.
• Three basic themes (today's diverse people, today's issues, and today's counseling practices) form the organizational structure of the text.
• An interdisciplinary focus emphasizes the role and functions of counselors within the changing structure of the society.
• Concepts are clearly defined, with numerous accompanying examples.

PART I: TODAY'S SOCIETY.

1. CULTURE AND COUNSELING.

Cultural/People Dynamics.
Contemporary Multiculturalism in Today's Society.
Counseling and Development in a Diverse Society.
Composition of our Diverse Society: Major Ethnocultural Groups.
Summary.

2. THE CULTURE OF THE COUNSELOR.

Background of Helping Professionals.
Personal Dimensions of Counselor and Client in the Therapeutic Process.
Professional Ethics.
The Cultural Episode.
Summary.

3. PROFILES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: NATIVE AMERICANS, ANGLO-AMERICANS, EUROPEAN ETHNIC AMERICANS.

How Do Americans See Themselves Today?
Native Americans.
Anglo-Americans.
European Ethnic Americans.
Summary.

4. PROFILES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: AFRICAN AMERICANS, HISPANIC AMERICANS, ASIAN AMERICANS.

African Americans.
Hispanic Americans.
Asian Americans.
Summary.

PART II: TODAY'S ISSUES.

5. SOCIAL POLITICAL ISSUES.

What Is a Minority?
The Influence of Differences.
Prejudice.
Ramifications of Racism.
Ramifications of Cultural Differences.
Ramifications of Slavery and Racism.
Ramifications of Color Differences.
Toward Authentic Interpersonal Relations.
Summary.

6. EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENT.

The Status of Education Today.
Formalizing Education in the United States.
Basic Issues in Education.
Concern for Educational Equality.
Concern for Disadvantaged Students.
Pressures on Teachers and Counselors.
Native Americans in the Educational System.
Functional Roles of Counselors in a Multicultural Educational Environment.
Summary.

7. WORK AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.

The Status of Work and the Work Ethic in Today's Society.
Economic Systems.
How Economic Trends and Conditions Affect Work and Career Development.
Work and Career Development within Cultural Diversity.
Relational Counseling: Expanding Personal Definitions and Expectations in Career Development.
Traditional Career Theories and Models.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Practices in the Workplace.
Summary.

8. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH.

Adjustment.
Maladjustment.
Basic Rules with Culturally Diverse Clients.
Stress as a General Condition in Our Culture.
Marital and Family Concerns.
Suicide.
Substance Abuse.
Aging and the Elderly.
Summary.

PART III: TODAY'S COUNSELING PRACTICES.

9. TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY.

Cultural History of Therapy.
Major Theoretical Approaches to Counseling and Therapy.
Psychodynamic Approaches.
Existential-Humanistic Approaches.
Behavioral Approaches.
Summary.

10. ECLECTIC AND SYNERGETIC APPROACHES TO COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY.

Eclectic Approaches.
Synergetic Approaches.
Summary.

11. THE INTERACTION OF COUNSELOR AND CLIENT.

Counseling Excerpts: Sociopolitical Issues.
Counseling Excerpts: Education and Achievement.
Counseling Excerpts: Work and Career Development.
Counseling Excerpts: Social and Personal Growth.
Summary.

APPENDIX A: GUIDELINES FOR PROVIDERS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES TO ETHNIC, LINGUISTIC, AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS.
APPENDIX B: MAJOR AMERICAN VALUE ORIENTATIONS.
REFERENCES.
NAME INDEX.
SUBJECT INDEX.