Counseling Competencies for the English-Speaking Caribbean

Abstract

The present study utilized the Delphi method to develop a list of competency areas for counseling professionals practicing with residents of the English-Speaking Caribbean. Thirty-seven counseling experts, predominately those working in school settings in the Bahamas, completed one to three rounds of an interactive survey in which they provided an initial 272 competency suggestions and ranked the importance of each competency area. Through thematic analysis, these competencies collapsed into the tripartite model of multicultural competence: Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills. Final competency lists included importance ratings via Likert-type scale responses to 11 Knowledge areas, 13 Awareness and Attitudes areas, and 24 Skills areas. The cultural and professional significance of these competency areas are analyzed and described. Last, we present strengths and limitations of the current study, alongside implications for practice, advocacy, education/training, and research.