Tri Nguyen, Ph.D.
A Decolonizing Analysis of Multicultural Competence Counseling Approaches
2020-2021
Abstract
Research indicates that clinicians who are trained in multicultural counseling competencies (MCC) have increased awareness, knowledge, and skills in providing culturally appropriate therapy for people of color in the United States. However, recent studies on the MCC framework found it to be limited in scope and lacking in-depth epistemological consideration. To increase theoretical diversity in multicultural counseling research and introduce critical interculturality as an alternative framework for training culturally diverse therapists, this study examines epistemological issues within the MCC framework. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explores the perceived understanding and experiences of 16 therapists of color (TOC) who were familiar with cultural competence trainings and practices in the United States. The initial themes identified, based upon the interview data, were re-interpreted through a decolonizing framework and my evolving reflexive posture. This reflexive reinterpretation revealed strong Eurocentric agendas and biases in the MCCs framework. The findings contribute to the knowledge gap by bringing to light the epistemological and colonial problems within the MCC framework and the field of counseling and therapy in the U.S. The study proposes critical interculturality as an alternative framework for addressing the needs of clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.