Counseling the Latino Population

A Multicultural ApproachLibby Reed and Brittany Smith

Wake Forest University

What are some of the most common stereotypes that are held

about Latinos/ Hispanics?

What are some of the ways they are portrayed by the media?

Stereotypes

Latina/o Originated in ancient Rome 1800s – Used in Europe to describe people from countries’ whose official

language came from Latin 1970s – became popular blanket term for people who trace ancestry to Latin

America Historically most popular in Chicago and New York but has gained acceptance

throughout United States.

Hispanic Official U.S. Government designated ethnic identifier. Introduced in the 1970 United States census. Classifies people of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Central American, or South

American decent. Historically, used most prevalently in Texas, New Mexico, and the

southeastern United States

So, which term do you use?

I Say Latino, You Say Hispanic Ethnic labels defined

(Lee, 2013)

Race and Hispanic origin are two separate concepts in the federal statistical system. People who are Hispanic may be

of any race. People in each race group may be

either Hispanic or Not Hispanic. Each person has two attributes,

their race (or races) and whether or not they are Hispanic.

To make it even more confusing…

(United States Census Bureau, 2010)

http://www.mun2.tv/node/1373394

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/09/29/gutierrez.means.latino.cnn

Nationwide survey of Hispanic adults conducted last April by the Pew Research Hispanic Center found...- 51% say they most often identify themselves

by their family’s country of origin- 24% prefer a pan-ethnic label (Latino or

Hispanic)- 21% use “American” most often

Other ways to identify

50.5 million Latinos in the United States (16% of the population) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

Largest minority group Estimated to reach 132.8 million by 2050 Younger than general US population Lower median income compared to US population as a whole.

Demographics

Although the Latino population shares similar aspects of cultural values and heritage, the Latino population in the United States…“can often be characterized better by their diversity than by their similarity” (Lee, 2013)

Latino Roots

1. Mexicans (64.3%)2. Puerto Ricans (9.1%)3. Cubans (3.5%)4. Salvadorians (3.2%)5. Dominicans (2.6%)

It is important to consider the historical relations these countries have had with

the US, as well as the context of immigration if client is foreign born.

Largest Latino Ethnic Groups in the US

A client’s degree of ethnic identification and level of acculturation will likely influence the extent to which he/she identifies with traditional “Latino” values.

Ethnic Identity and Acculturation

The degree to which someone identifies, sees themselves as, and/or feels Latino

The greater the ethnic identification of a client, the more necessary it is to understand Latino culture as a clinician.

Higher levels of ethnic identity related to high levels of self-esteem, increased coping and optimism, and increased academic achievement (Lee, 2013)

Should ethnic identification be promoted by counselors?

Ethnic Identity

Process of acculturation to U.S. is associated with stressors thought to increase risk for mental health

problems over time among immigrants and may partly explain immigrant paradox.

Acculturative stress Acculturation gap Language fluency does not determine level of acculturation Often context specific Low acculturation levels are associated with lower levels of

perceived discrimination

Acculturation and Acculturative Stress

(Villarruel, 2009)

Key findings include: 1st-gen. immigrant adolescents exhibit lower levels of juvenile delinquency and

risk behaviors than 2nd or 3rd plus gen. some 1st-gen. immigrant children are outperforming 2nd and 3rd plus gen.

children in standardized test scores 1st-gen. immigrant children have positive attitudes towards school and teachers 1st-gen. immigrant children often start behind American-born children in school,

but they catch up quickly and have high rates of learning growth.

Immigrant Children

http://vimeo.com/14807411

“First generations come in with amazing energy and amazing capabilities of surmounting lack of education in parents, poverty, and language differences. The tragedy is that as some kids acculturate and become American, they start doing worse.” – Cynthia Garcia Coll, Brown University

“For a culture so devoted to family and community, effective integration may be a healthier goal than acculturation or assimilation. ‘There’s quite a bit of research indicating that the people who achieve some degree of integration tend to be better off across all kinds of health markers,’ Consoli said. ‘Integration is an affirmation to both — that is, my culture of origin and my host culture.”

- Embracing Latin America’s Nuances, Counseling Today

Integration, si?

Language can be a barrier for clients and counselors, especially when dealing with first generation immigrants

Adult immigrants may be affected by double language loss, which would negatively impact the counselor-client relationship (Thomas & Schwarzbaum, 2011)

Language Barriers

When clinicians aren’t used to working with immigrant clients, they may come off as frustrated or impatient, which may elicit mistrust of the client. Counselors should be aware of their mannerisms, facial expressions, etc.

Counselor can allow client to express him/herself in native language if they cannot do so in English

Sixty-one percent of Latino and black children younger than 18 in the US come from families whose incomes are 200 percent below the federal poverty level. In contrast, 35 percent of white children come from families that have incomes below that threshold.

23 million people of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity represented 15 percent of the U.S. labor force in 2011. By 2020, Latinos are expected to comprise 19 percent of the U.S. labor force

Employed Latinos are less likely to have a college degree than are either Whites or African Americans. Approximately one in six employed Latinos aged 25 and over have completed a bachelor's degree, which is less than half the proportion among employed Whites

Unemployment rate for Latinos is more unstable than for other ethnic groups

SES/Employment

By 2020, one in four children enrolled in America's K-12 public schools will be Latino.

Of those Latino students, more than half will be second-generation Americans, born in the United States to at least one parent who is an immigrant.

Among Hispanic 16- to 24-year-olds in the United States, 17.6 percent were high school dropouts in 2009, compared with 9.3 percent of African-Americans and 5.2 percent of whites in the same age group.

Roughly 37 percent of Hispanic 25- to 64-year-olds completed some college coursework or an associate degree, falling behind non-Hispanic whites at 63 percent, African-Americans at 53 percent, and Asian-Americans at 74 percent, according to the EPE Research Center in 2011

Statistics show that Latino students who go to college are far less likely than their black, white, and Asian-American peers to complete

Education

Concept refers to the significance of, attachment to, and identification with family including

nuclear, extended, and/or fictive kin.

Familismo

“High levels of perceived family cohesion and support are thought to function as protective factors against external

stressors” (Villarruel, 2009)

Colectivismo: tendency to put interests and well-being of the group ahead of those of the individual

Personalismo: preference for personal relationships and contacts, particularly warm, friendly and personal.

Respeto: respectful attitude towards others, especially the elderly

Simpatia: describes the tendency to avoid interpersonal conflict and to promote smooth and pleasant social relationships

Verguenza: not bringing shame to the family or behaving in a humble manner

Cultural values relating to familismo

(Lee, 2013)

The concepts of machismo and marianismo have often been misinterpreted.

Adherence to traditional sex roles among Hispanics is decreasing rapidly in the urban class (Sue & Sue, 2008)

Gender Role Expectations

Although many Latinos are Catholic, don’t make any assumptions when dealing with Latino clients. Ask individuals about what spirituality and religion mean to them.

Spirituality

Hispanic culture places emphasis on family/collectivism. In general, approaches that focus too heavily on the individual may not be the most effective (depending on the client)

Behavior therapy and CBT have been shown to be effective with Latino clients and other minority groups (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2010)

Latino clients in one study found that narrative therapists were more likeable, professional, and empathic than Cognitive Behavioral therapists (Sabol, 2007)

Narrative therapy allows clients to tell their own story; the client is the expert

Theoretical Orientation

“Intermittent counseling” (Murphy, 2005)

Less Rogerian (although still important) – more action oriented

“‘Becoming part of the family’ should be a key goal in counseling Latino clients” (Murphy, 2005)

Collaborative process with the client Perceive psychological problems as similar to physical

problems Be active, concrete, goal-directed Family therapy and group therapy valued interventions in

Latin America

Techniques

(Bean, Perry & Bedell, 2001)

Identify level of ethnic identification Identify level of acculturation Assess immigration experience (if necessary) Provide concrete suggestions Engage client/family with warmth and personalismo Collaboration/involvement with traditional healers,

physicians, family, etc. (Draw on clients community) Act as advocate Speak Spanish

Techniques

(Bean, Perry & Bedell, 2001)

No literal translation for “counseling” in Spanish Open to combining medication with counseling treatment Understand effects of immigration, acculturation, assimilation Outside help is typically not sought until friends, family, and

other resources are exhausted Competence in serving diverse populations is critical—counselors

should research Latino culture and be aware of their own biases Hispanic clients often don’t return after the first counseling

session- don’t take it personally Use sensitivity around issues of differentiation Sensitivity to the way economic challenges are changing Latino

family structure

Ethical/Professional Considerations

Baum, D., (2010, September 2). New report shows how immigrant children are thriving in schools, community. Retrieved from http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2010/09/immigrants

Bean, R. A., Perry, B. J., & Bedell, T. M. (2001). Developing culturally competent marriage and family therapists: Guidelines for working with hispanic families. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27(1), 43-54.

Harper, F. D., & McFadden, J. (2003). Culture and counseling: New approaches. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Lee, C. C., & American Counseling Association. (2013). Multicultural issues in counseling: New approaches to diversity (4th

ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Murphy, S.N., (2005, December 29). Embracing latin america’s nuances. Counseling Today. Retrieved from http://ct.counseling.org/2005/12/ct-online-embracing-latin-americas-nuances/

Sabol, P. (2007). Narrative therapy: Perceptions and attitudes regarding the use of this paradigm with latino and filipino clients.Fairleigh Dickinson University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 125-125 p. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/304781353?accountid=14868. (304781353).

Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2008). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (5th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.

Thomas, A. J., & Schwarzbaum, S. (2011). Culture and Identity: Life Stories for counselors and therapists. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2012, August 8). Census bureau releases results from the 2010 census race and hispanic origin alternative questionnaire research. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb12-146.html

Villarruel, F. (2009). Handbook of U.S. Latino psychology: Developmental and community-based perspectives . Los Angeles: SAGE.

References