Cultural Commitment and the Counseling Preferences and Counselor Perceptions of Native American Women

Abstract

Native American women (N = 218) living on a reservation were surveyed to assess their preferences for counselor sex, ethnicity, cultural awareness, counseling style, and commitment to Native American and Anglo-American cultures. Women generally preferred a counselor with the following attributes: female, ethnically similar, culturally sensitive, and used a nondirective counseling style. All these preferences, except for counseling style, were generally stronger for personal versus vocational problems and were stronger for women with high commitment to Native American culture. Written analogue portrayals depicted counselors in four combinations (Native American vs. Anglo, culturally sensitive vs. insensitive). The Native American/sensitive counselor was rated highest, with the Anglo/insensitive counselor rated lowest. The Anglo/sensitive counselor was preferred to the Native/insensitive counselor by women who strongly identified with Native American culture.