A Three-Dimensional Model for Counseling Racial/Ethnic Minorities

Abstract

The counseling profession' heavy reliance on the psychotherapy role has been criticized as being unresponsive to the needs and experiences of ethnic-minority clients. The use of other counseling roles and techniques indigenous to the client's ancestral culture have been proposed as alternatives to psychotherapy; however, no schema currently exists to help counselors select an appropriate helping role or strategy. This article describes one schema that is based on the variables of locus of problem etiology, level of acculturation, and goals of counseling. Limitations of the current model and the need to develop other selection schemata are discussed.