Cross Cultural Counselling
One's identity is a reflection of one's culture in its very largest sense: gender; nationality; ethnicity; geographical location (rural or urban); religion and major belief system; age and generational experiences; sexual orientation and relationship status; class; health/illness or disability, or one's educational experiences.
Many people when thinking of meeting with a counsellor to discuss their personal concerns would like to speak with someone whose own background and values approximate those of their own.
For instance, an international student from China might like to meet with a person who speaks Mandarin, who has lived or visited China, and understands the values of their community.
An older person who has lived through a period of tumult in their own society may wish to meet with someone who is around the same age and who has knowledge of societal events at a particular time.
A gay or lesbian student may wish to meet with a counsellor who is very conversant and comfortable with her/his own sexual experiences and preferences.
At the Counselling Service, staff members come from a wide range of backgrounds. If you have any particular preferences please tell the receptionist when you are making an appointment. We will endeavour to place you with someone of your choice.
For students who are making the transition from another country to study temporarily or to settle permanently in Australia, there is an International Counsellor, who is particularly familiar with issues of cultural adaptation.
At times, it will not be possible to arrange an appointment between yourself and a counsellor whose background reflects your preferred cultural, religious or identity group. If this is the case it will be important for you to approach the meeting with trust in the counsellor's training and level of skill in cross cultural counselling.
All counsellors are selected into their training programs on the basis of their capacity to empathise and to show respect for individual and group differences. They are experienced with a wide range of people and work to put people at ease so that trust and confidence in the counselling process can be built. Staff members also endeavour to become more familiar with the cultural mores and experiences of particular cultural and identity groups through specific professional development activities.
In addition your counsellor will ask you questions about your own interpretations of your cultural background and general life experiences as they affect you, in an endeavour to more clearly understand you and your concerns.