Three Generations of Asian Counselors:

The Role of Ethnic and Cultural Identity in

Counseling Supervision

Overview

• Multidimensions of cultural Identity• Introducing our own cultural identity• Supervision experiences with

supervisor/supervisee who are sharing similar cultural background

• Common Asian values & identity development process

• Application of supervision theory• Discussion

Constantine Questions

• What are the main demographic variables that make up my cultural identities? 

• What worldviews do I bring to the supervision relationship based on these cultural identities?

• What knowledge do I possess about the worldviews of supervisors/supervisees who have different cultural identities from me? 

• What are some of my struggles and challenges in working with supervisors/supervisees who are culturally different from me?

• In what ways would I like to improve my abilities in working with culturally diverse supervisors/supervisees?

Our Cultural Identities

• Alison, Chinese American Immigrant Student

• Ji-yeon, Korean International Female Student

• Jerry, Chinese-English-American Psychologist

Our Cultural Identities

• Alison, Chinese American Immigrant Student

• Ji-yeon, Korean International Female Student

• Jerry, Chinese-English-American Psychologist

Our Cultural Identities

• Alison, Chinese American Immigrant Student

• Ji-yeon, Korean International Female Student

• Jerry, Chinese-English-American Psychologist

Negative Experiences

• Being “different”

• Being a visible minority

• Feeling marginalized, invisible, discounted

• Being stereotyped

• Being the victim of racial discrimination and prejudice

• Shame, pain, confusion

Positive Experiences

• Figuring out who I am

• Putting seemingly discrepant pieces together—integration

• Feeling pride in my cultural heritage

• Feeling connected to others with similar backgrounds

• Appreciating the richness of my heritage

Common Asian Values(Ho, 1992)

• Filial piety

• Shame

• Self-control

• Assumption of a middle position

• Awareness of social milieu

• Fatalism

• Inconspicuousness

Learning through Supervision

• Integrating cultural identity with professional identity

• Acceptance of diversity• Identifying similarities and differences• Empathic understanding• Emphasis on genuine relationship• Clarification of values, assumptions• Sharing dimensions of culture

Examples

• Automatic empathic understanding. “I have had the same experience.”

• Sharing of experience. “Perhaps my story will help you deal with this challenge.”

• Role model. “I’m glad there’s someone here who has a similar background to me.”

• Counselor identity. “How can I or should I bring my identity into my counseling sessions?”

Means of Interpersonal Functioning(Ancis & Ladany, 2001)

• Adaptation: complacency, apathy, superficial understanding of differences

• Incongruence: Confusion, some awareness, lack of commitment

• Exploration: Strong emotions, e.g., anger, curiosity and insight

• Integration: integrative awareness and interpersonal proficiency

Supervision Relationship Types(Ancis and Ladany, 2001)

• Progressive

• Parallel-Advanced

• Parallel-Delayed

• Regressive

Discussion Questions

• What’s your most salient identity and how it played out in your supervisory relationship when your supervisor/supervisee was similar to yours vs. different

• How cultural identity influences the development of multicultural competencies in counseling and supervision

• What are some of my struggles and challenges in working with supervisors/supervisees who are culturally different from me?

• In what ways would I like to improve my abilities in working with culturally diverse supervisors/supervisees?

ReferencesAncis, J., & Ladany, N. (2001). Multicultural supervision. In L. J. Bradley & N. Ladany (eds.),

Counselor supervision: Principles, process, & practice (3rd ed., pp. 63‑90). Philadelphia: Brunner‑Routledge.

Constantine, M.G. (1997). Facilitating multicultural competency in counseling supervision: Operationalizing a practical framework. In D.B. Pope-Davis & H.L.K. Coleman (eds.), Multicultural counseling competencies (pp. 310-324). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Ho, M.K. (1992). Minority children and adolescents in therapy. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications

Kim, J. (1981). The process of Asian American identity development: A study of Japanese‑American women’s perceptions of their struggle to achieve personal identities as Americans of Asian ancestry. Dissertation Abstracts International, 42, 1551 1A (University Microfilms No, 81-18080)

Kitano, H.L., &. Maki M. T. (1996). Continuity, change, and diversity: Counseling

Asian Americans. In P.B. Pedersen et al. (eds.) Counseling Across Cultures (4th

ed., pp. 124–45). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.