LP# 5: Working in a Diverse Environment-Recognition of Diversity By Mike Micoliczyk

         In this learning plan, I was once again delightfully challenged to explore concepts of diversity

 as it applies to different experiences across dimensions of culture, ethnicity, sexism, age, gender, race,

 socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and disability. Expressed by one of my fellow classmates in a

 discussion point, I could even contemplate mental health as a difference among us that we should

 be sensitive and aware of. If I am going to be a competent Substance Abuse Counselor, I will need

 to approach my clients with a willingness to acknowledge and be sensitive to their experiences;

 being different than mine. Those differences are very attributable to the continued

 growing immigrant population in the United States, along with their varied values, customs and beliefs;

 which are different than mine.  Even within similarities of my own race there exists diversity with

 socioeconomic status, regional customs, sexual orientation, sexual preference, religious preference or

 place of origin. Undoubtably this “brings a variety of different styles, backgrounds, values, beliefs and

 perspectives” (Corliss & Corliss, 2006, p. 124). All of which bring challenges and yet enriching

 opportunities for growth and development within myself both personally and professionally.

            For a large portion of my adult life, I was unknowingly centered in Ethnocentrism; “the tendency to view norms and values of my own culture as the standard against which to measure and judge all other cultures” (Corliss & Corliss, 2006, p. 125). The change in moving away from my Ethnocentrism began two years ago while in the class Diversity in Counseling. Since that time, I’ve willingly been aware of differences of power and privilege in our nation. Disturbingly, I’ve had to expose awareness to my unawareness. I’ve had to explore the negative consequences and culture specific assumptions that went unexplored by myself. My biases were not ill intentioned but the realization that I held cultural tunnel vision was very apparent. This new internal awareness and knowledge made me look outward to where and why it occurred. My eyes were opened, I had to acknowledge these personal false assumptions which I held were also unconsciously being exercised at local, regional and national macro system structure levels. More importantly I became “cognizant of who I am and where I came from that made it possible to identify that my roots were indeed in an ethnic group (Corliss & Corliss, 2006, p. 132). In this realization, I was able to explore my family from a generational vantage point and became aware of unintentionally biased beliefs and attitudes that were deeply rooted in my family history.

            Understanding my point of reference in regard to my beliefs, which have been impacted by family values, culture and diversity in my community, this learning plan helped me to revisit and explore the Awareness of Belief Systems. Part of that belief system may contribute to insensitivity toward diversity. I associate my own beliefs directly and indirectly (whether I choose to acknowledge this or not) into communicating with clients, and this influences the helping process. In challenging my own biases, I’ve become aware of how this might interfere with effective helping in multicultural situations. I loved the section out of our text which addressed assumptions in our belief systems of diversity-related to: self-disclosure, trusting relationships, family values, self-actualization, nonverbal behavior and directness and assertiveness. My cultural assumptions have undergone a renovation and are still under construction, but a lot of pivotal beliefs are now pointed in an embracing new development of competencies.

            What really helped put so much of this learning plan into cognitive practical working knowledge, was doing the Cultural Competence Checklist, which I posted on my Wiki. This was very assistive and helpful in gauging the depth of my competencies with diversity. Then stacked on top of that evaluation, I experienced a paradigm shift with reading THE VALUES AMERICANS LIVE BY by L. Robert Kohls. This insightful link helped me view Americans' values looking from the outside in, as a foreigner needing to understand our culture and beliefs. The eight-page reading introduction produced a list of common values which would fit most Americans. Kohls, (1984) states that “American values would stand in sharp contrast to the values commonly held by the people of many other countries.” I never stood outside our culture looking in and trying to understand the broader “us.” I always held a reference point of “me” being the part of “us”, looking out and trying to understand other cultures and societies. The introduction article to his book notes that Americans hold these 13 core beliefs and that if the foreign visitor really understood how deeply embedded these 13 values are in Americans, they would then be able to understand 95% of American actions. These actions viewed from a foreigner’s values would seem to be unbelievable, strange and baffling when evaluated from the perspective of a different society and its values. Flipping the standpoint theme of diversity around greatly allowed me to shift my comprehension in a whole new perspective of better understanding.

 

References

Corliss, L. A., & Corliss, R. A. (2006). Human Service Agencies- An Orientation to Fieldwork (2nd ed.). Cengage Learning.

Kohls, R. L. (1984). The Values Americans Live by. Meridian House International.