SC08 – Building Bridges of Understanding with Religion and Culture through Intercultural Resiliency
Location: Cypress A
Due to the changing multicultural landscape of their communities, therapists are having to address greater diversity within client populations, including a broader spectrum of religious and cultural practices. While there is increased acknowledgement for the development for culturally fused counseling, many therapists continue to believe that religion specifically should be excluded from therapy. This exclusion continues to occur despite the significant growth in the psychological study of religion and APA resolutions which encourage non-prejudicial or neutral positions when addressing religion or cultural practices in clients and the promotion of respectful collaboration with religious communities.
This workshop briefly outlines the historically sticky relationship between psychology and religion then emphasizes ways culture and religion can be integrated into the therapeutic discourse through the promotion of intercultural resiliency. Interculturalism allows for relationship building and learning from each other while taking the therapist deeper than multicultural or cross-cultural communication. Similarly, resiliency as a healing process allows for creating new meanings to unfortunate life events based on developing the self through mentorship and community. The resiliency process interfaces well with interculturalism as all resources are respected and included. Intercultural resiliency recognizes cultural and religious diversity to guide therapists to becoming more pluralistic in practice.
Educational Objectives:
- Define the underlying ideals of intercultural resiliency and the components of culturally infused counseling
- Identify ways the building blocks of resiliency and the resiliency process can be fostered across diverse religions and cultures
- Demonstrate ways to self-reflect on one’s worldview and how to become more diversified and pluralist in practice