Discussion Assignment 1: Please Answer With No More Than 250 ✓ Solved

Discussion Assignment 1: Please answer with no more than 250

Discussion Assignment 1: Please answer with no more than 250 words: What are some similarities and differences between Evidence-Based Practice and cultural competence? Include citations.

Discussion Assignment 2: Please answer with no more than 250 words: How does one balance science, religion, and the wide range of beliefs in the world with one’s own beliefs and practices? How do spirituality and religion impact a person’s belief system? How might these questions impact you as you study to become a professional counselor? What are your thoughts about non-Western and non-traditional practices for treating mental health issues in diverse clients?

Reflection Assignment 3: Please answer in no more than 2 double-spaced, APA format pages not including the reference page: 1) What are your feelings about the likelihood of your working in the future with a client whose belief system and spiritual practices are foreign to you? What would your reaction be if a client wanted you to pray with him/her in session? 2) How do you feel about talking with clients about religion, spirituality and non-traditional healing? How do you think it might impact you if a client wanted to talk about seeking and following the advice of an indigenous healer for a diagnosis of lung cancer, rather than following through with the advice of a reputable oncologist to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment?

Paper For Above Instructions

Balancing science, religion, and diverse beliefs requires a deliberate, humility-driven approach. Spirituality and religion shape coping, meaning-making, and help-seeking behaviors, thus influencing mental health trajectories (Koenig, King, & Carson, 2012). Religious and spiritual resources can buffer stress and contribute to resilience, yet they may also present conflicts with biomedical recommendations if beliefs discourage certain treatments. Counselors should assess clients’ belief systems, invite open dialogue about spirituality, and consider how these beliefs intersect with treatment goals. Religion and spirituality are not inherently at odds with psychology; rather, they can offer strengths that, when integrated thoughtfully, enhance engagement and outcomes (Pargament, 1997). In clinical work, practitioners should avoid pathologizing clients’ beliefs and instead explore the adaptive functions those beliefs serve, while remaining mindful of evidence-based risk factors and treatment efficacy. The inclusion of non-Western and non-traditional healing practices can broaden therapeutic options and improve cultural congruence; however, clinicians must evaluate safety, efficacy, and potential interactions with standard care (Sue & Sue, 2019).

As I study to become a professional counselor, these considerations encourage me to cultivate cultural humility—recognizing limits in my own knowledge and seeking clients’ guidance about what is meaningful and acceptable in their contexts (Tervalon & Murray-García, 1998). This stance aligns with evidence-based practice by ensuring that interventions are both scientifically sound and culturally appropriate. I will assess clients’ spiritual resources, values, and traditional healing beliefs (e.g., indigenous practices) and determine how these may complement or conflict with conventional treatments. When clients pursue non-Western healing modalities, I will collaboratively evaluate risks, benefits, and evidence, and, when necessary, consult with supplementary professionals to ensure patient safety and informed consent (APA Multicultural Guidelines, 2017). In all cases, I will maintain clear boundaries around practices such as prayer in sessions, documenting consent and ensuring client autonomy and comfort.

Non-Western and non-traditional practices can enrich care by aligning therapy with clients’ worldviews. However, counselors must approach such practices with cultural sensitivity, critical inquiry, and ethically sound judgment. Respectful dialogue about religion, spirituality, and healing can strengthen the therapeutic alliance and improve adherence to treatment plans. If a client desires guidance from an indigenous healer for a medical diagnosis, I would engage in a collaborative, nonjudgmental discussion about the evidence, potential interactions with oncologic care, and the client’s goals. I would emphasize informed consent, safety, and the client’s autonomy, ensuring that medical care is not rejected but rather integrated in a way that respects the client’s beliefs (Koenig, King, & Carson, 2012; Pargament, 1997). Such conversations require sensitivity to power dynamics, cultural context, and the ethical responsibility to avoid coercion or suppression of clients’ belief systems (Sackett et al., 1996).

References

1. Sackett, D. L., Rosenberg, W. M. C., Gray, J. A., Haynes, R. B., & Richardson, W. S. (1996). Evidence-based medicine: What it is and what it isn't. BMJ, 312(7023), 71-72.
2. Tervalon, M., & Murray-García, M. (1998). Cultural humility vs. cultural competence: A critical distinction in developing a)_model of care. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9(2), 117-125.
3. Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Wiley.
4. American Psychological Association. (2017). Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality. American Psychologist, 72(3), 255-270.
5. Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. Guilford Press.
6. Paloutzian, R. F., & Park, C. L. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Guilford Press.
7. Koenig, H. G., King, D. E., & Carson, V. B. (2012). Handbook of Religion and Health. Oxford University Press.
8. Hill, P. C., & Hood, R. W. (1999). Measures of Religiosity and Spirituality. In Paloutzian, R. F., & Park, C. L. (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Guilford Press.
9. World Health Organization. (2013). Spirituality, religion and health: A synthesis. World Health Organization.
10. Elkins, D. J., Hedstrom, L. E., Hughes, D. A., et al. (1988). Toward a better understanding of spirituality in health care. Journal of Family Practice.