Synthesis as a category of Bloom’s taxonomy cognitive domain requires creating a structure from separated elements. Therefore, multicultural counseling competencies play the role of building blocks, whereas the concept itself represents the whole structure. American Counseling Association identified the following competencies of multicultural counseling: counselor self-awareness, client worldview, counseling relationship, and counseling and advocacy interventions. A specialist must acquire all these competencies in order to be considered a proper multicultural counselor.
Counselor Self-Awareness
Counselor needs to develop self-awareness to explore their attitudes and beliefs and develop the necessary knowledge and skills. According to ACA, this means that a counselor must be aware of their social identities and status, obtain knowledge about what shaped them, possess critical and analytical thinking, and immerse themselves in their community. In other words, the multicultural counselor must be aware of their identity and be ready to use this knowledge in counseling.
Client Worldview
Likewise, a multicultural counselor must become aware of the client’s attitudes, beliefs, and general worldview. ACA states that a competent multicultural counselor needs to possess curiosity about the client’s history and cultural background, develop knowledge of stereotypes linked to the client’s cultural group, and learn how to obtain culture-related information. For instance, a client’s worldview may vary significantly depending on whether a client belongs to a privileged or marginalized social group. A competent counselor must consider the client’s worldview in their work.
Counseling Relationship
Acquiring knowledge about the client’s worldview and self-awareness is not enough for a multicultural counselor. In addition, it is necessary to understand how this knowledge would affect the counselor-client relationship. A competent multicultural counselor is supposed to know how to engage a client in discussion and build productive relationships with them. At this stage, a self-aware counselor uses the information about the client’s worldview to facilitate the client’s participation.
Counseling and Advocacy Interventions
Finally, a competent multicultural counselor develops specific interventions based on productive relationships and the client’s worldview. Intrapersonal interventions depend on the client’s personality; interpersonal interventions include the client’s relationships with their family, friends, or peers; institutional interventions involve the client’s connections with social institutions. In addition, competent counselors should not be afraid to apply their knowledge to the community, national, or even international levels. Overall, multicultural counseling does not limit itself to helping a single client — particular cases should be treated as a basis for potential contributions in a larger scope.