Impact of Communication Styles on Counseling and Social Work in Multicultural Settings

 
COMMUNICATION
STYLES AND ITS IMPACT
ON COUNSELING AND
SOCIAL WORK
 
Dr. Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
University Of Central Florida
 School of Social Work
 
 
1
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Compare and contrast styles of communication between various racial/
ethnic/
Recognize nonverbal communications and their cultural meanings.
Counseling styles and roles may create barriers to effective multicultural
counseling.
Nonverbal communication can (a) trigger off racial biases and fears, and
(b) reflect our true beliefs and feelings.
 
 
2
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Proxemics, kinesics, paralanguage, and high-/ low-context
communications are likely to affect communication.
Theories of counseling and psychotherapy can be distinguished by their
communication or helping styles.
Explain the implications communication styles have for therapeutic
intervention techniques.
 
 
3
 
Cultural Expression of Mental Disorders
 
A client’s background,  culture
and age can influence how
psychological distress is
expressed.
Culture can also influence how
psychological distress is
perceived.
Assessments and interventions
should be adapted to cultural
beliefs and practices.
 
 
 
Communication
Styles
 
It is important that the social
worker and client send and
receive both verbal and
nonverbal messages accurately
and appropriately.
Counselors can sometimes be
more concerned with the
accuracy of communication
than with whether the
communication is appropriate.
 
 
Nonverbal Communication
 
What people say can be either enhanced or negated by their nonverbal
communication.
Ex. Mental Disorders (Bipolar Mania or Depression)
 Ex. Attitude can influence the message being delivered
Generally occurs outside the level of conscious awareness
Varies from culture to culture
Over or under diagnosis can occur by culture
 
 
Proxemics
 
Proxemics 
refers to perception and use of personal and interpersonal space
(e.g. norms of physical distance).
Violation may cause one to withdraw, become angry, or create conflict.
Some cultures are okay with being very close. In Western culture, people
seem to grow more uncomfortable when others stand too close rather than
too far away.
If the social worker/counselor backs away, this may be seen as coldness.
Social work/counselor may misinterpret client’s closeness.
 
Kinesics
 
 
Kinesics 
refers to bodily movements (e.g., facial expression, posture,
gestures, eye contact):
Japanese smile may mean discomfort.
Latin Americans shake hands with vigor.
Eye contact varies according to culture.
Asian and Latino/Hispanic Cultures vs. Black or African American
Cultures
 
Paralanguage
 
Paralanguage 
refers to vocal cues
other than words (i.e., loudness of
voice, pauses, silences, etc.):
 
Social workers may misinterpret
silences or speaking in a soft
tone.
Speaking loudly may not indicate
anger but rather a cultural style.
 
High-Low Communication
 
Context in Communication
 
Directness of a conversation or the degree of frankness also varies
considerably among cultures.
High-Context Communication—anchored in the physical context—is less
reliant on explicit code (e.g., many Asian cultures)
Low-Context Communication places greater reliance on verbal parts of the
message (e.g., Western)
 
Nonverbal as
reflections of bias
Nonverbal as
triggers to bias
and fears
In general, people
of color prefer
more active,
directive forms of
helping than
nondirective
ones.
 
NONVERBALS AS REFLECTIONS OF BIAS
 
Nonverbal communication least under conscious control
Operate primarily at unaware level
More spontaneous, more difficult to censor or falsify
May reveal conscious deceptions or unconscious bias
Minorities may use nonverbal cues as a means of psychological survival
Minority groups hold contrasting communication styles
May confuse counselors with different backgrounds
 
13
 
COUNSELING AS A COMMUNICATION STYLE
 
 
Counseling posses varied communication styles
Counseling’s race/culture can influence helping style
Communication styles differ depending on the group
Due to cultural and sociopolitical factors
 
 
14
 
DIFFERENTIAL SKILLS IN MULTICULTURAL Counseling
 
15
 
IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
 
Counseling style and client communication styles should match
Ideally, therapeutic style should mold to needs of client
Minority clients may prefer influencing approach
White clients typically prefer passive approach
 
 
 
 
16
 
IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
 
Social workers must engage in variety of helping styles and roles
Be aware of own communication/helping styles
Training programs should consider cultural and racial factors
 
 
17
 
SUMMARY
 
Counseling approaches must adapt to sociodemographic
characteristics
Nonverbal communication may enhance content of a
message
Communication style strongly manifested through
nonverbal
Race and culture may influence nonverbal behavior
Dimensions of nonverbal communication
Proxemics- use of personal space
Kinesics- bodily movements
Paralanguage- vocal cues
High and low context, context vs content
 
 
 
 
18
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Exploring the influence of communication styles on counseling and social work in diverse cultural contexts, this study delves into the nuances of verbal and nonverbal communication, including proxemics, kinesics, and paralanguage. It highlights the importance of adapting interventions to align with cultural beliefs and practices to ensure effective multicultural counseling. The role of communication in recognizing and addressing mental health disorders within cultural frameworks is also examined.


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  1. COMMUNICATION STYLES AND ITS IMPACT ON COUNSELING AND SOCIAL WORK Dr. Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW University Of Central Florida School of Social Work 1

  2. INTRODUCTION Compare and contrast styles of communication between various racial/ ethnic/ Recognize nonverbal communications and their cultural meanings. Counseling styles and roles may create barriers to effective multicultural counseling. Nonverbal communication can (a) trigger off racial biases and fears, and (b) reflect our true beliefs and feelings. 2

  3. INTRODUCTION Proxemics, kinesics, paralanguage, and high-/ low-context communications are likely to affect communication. Theories of counseling and psychotherapy can be distinguished by their communication or helping styles. Explain the implications communication styles have for therapeutic intervention techniques. 3

  4. Cultural Expression of Mental Disorders A client s background, culture and age can influence how psychological distress is expressed. Culture can also influence how psychological distress is perceived. Assessments and interventions should be adapted to cultural beliefs and practices.

  5. Communication Styles It is important that the social worker and client send and receive both verbal and nonverbal messages accurately and appropriately. Counselors can sometimes be more concerned with the accuracy of communication than with whether the communication is appropriate.

  6. Nonverbal Communication What people say can be either enhanced or negated by their nonverbal communication. Ex. Mental Disorders (Bipolar Mania or Depression) Ex. Attitude can influence the message being delivered Generally occurs outside the level of conscious awareness Varies from culture to culture Over or under diagnosis can occur by culture

  7. Proxemics Proxemics refers to perception and use of personal and interpersonal space (e.g. norms of physical distance). Violation may cause one to withdraw, become angry, or create conflict. Some cultures are okay with being very close. In Western culture, people seem to grow more uncomfortable when others stand too close rather than too far away. If the social worker/counselor backs away, this may be seen as coldness. Social work/counselor may misinterpret client s closeness.

  8. Kinesics Kinesics refers to bodily movements (e.g., facial expression, posture, gestures, eye contact): Japanese smile may mean discomfort. Latin Americans shake hands with vigor. Eye contact varies according to culture. Asian and Latino/Hispanic Cultures vs. Black or African American Cultures

  9. Paralanguage Paralanguage refers to vocal cues other than words (i.e., loudness of voice, pauses, silences, etc.): Social workers may misinterpret silences or speaking in a soft tone. Speaking loudly may not indicate anger but rather a cultural style.

  10. High-Low Communication A high-context (HC) communication or message is one that is anchored in the physical context (situation) or internalized in the person. Low-context (LC) cultures place a greater reliance on the verbal part of the message.

  11. Context in Communication Directness of a conversation or the degree of frankness also varies considerably among cultures. High-Context Communication anchored in the physical context is less reliant on explicit code (e.g., many Asian cultures) Low-Context Communication places greater reliance on verbal parts of the message (e.g., Western)

  12. Sociopolitical Facets of Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal as reflections of bias Nonverbal as triggers to bias and fears In general, people of color prefer more active, directive forms of helping than nondirective ones.

  13. NONVERBALS AS REFLECTIONS OF BIAS Nonverbal communication least under conscious control Operate primarily at unaware level More spontaneous, more difficult to censor or falsify May reveal conscious deceptions or unconscious bias Minorities may use nonverbal cues as a means of psychological survival Minority groups hold contrasting communication styles May confuse counselors with different backgrounds 13

  14. COUNSELING AS A COMMUNICATION STYLE Counseling posses varied communication styles Counseling s race/culture can influence helping style Communication styles differ depending on the group Due to cultural and sociopolitical factors 14

  15. DIFFERENTIAL SKILLS IN MULTICULTURAL Counseling Black counselors typically use more active expressive skills Utilize directions, expression of content, interpretation May include practical advice Allows for interjection of counselor s values/opinions White males and females frequently use attending skills BIPOC Clients tend to prefer counselors of same race and ethnicity Most apparent with Asian American clients 15

  16. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Counseling style and client communication styles should match Ideally, therapeutic style should mold to needs of client Minority clients may prefer influencing approach White clients typically prefer passive approach 16

  17. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Social workers must engage in variety of helping styles and roles Be aware of own communication/helping styles Training programs should consider cultural and racial factors 17

  18. Counseling approaches must adapt to sociodemographic characteristics Nonverbal communication may enhance content of a message Communication style strongly manifested through nonverbal Race and culture may influence nonverbal behavior Dimensions of nonverbal communication Proxemics- use of personal space Kinesics- bodily movements Paralanguage- vocal cues High and low context, context vs content SUMMARY 18

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