For this discussion question, students with last names beginning with A-K will respond to case study A for their initial discussion post, and students with last names beginning with L-Z will respond to case study B. Both Case Studies are attached below.

• For Unit 3.2 DB – Case Study A, please address the following in your response:
  • What are some of the assumptions that could be made about Red? What is the origin of those assumptions?
  • Can you describe the psychological impact these assumptions may be having on Red?
  • How might race, gender, and age be affecting the therapeutic relationship between the counselor and Red?
  • If you were Red’s therapist, how would you approach your work with him? What sociocultural dynamics would exist between you, and how might they influence the therapeutic process?
  • What role might cultural mistrust play in this process?
• For Unit 3.2 DB – Case Study B, please address the following in your response:
  • What are some of the assumptions that could be made about this family? What is the origin of those assumptions?
  • Can you describe the psychological impact these assumptions may be having on James? And his family?
  • How might race, gender, and age be affecting the therapeutic relationship between the counselor and the Lee family?
  • If you were the family’s therapist, how would you approach your work with them? What sociocultural dynamics would exist between you, and how might they influence the therapeutic process?
  • What role might cultural mistrust play in this process?

In response to your peers: Students who responded to case study A for their initial post should respond to at least two (2) peers who addressed case study B, and students who responded to case study B for their initial post should respond to at least two (2) peers who addressed case study A.

Unit 3.2 DB – Case Study A
Unit 3.2 DB – Case Study B

Unit 3 material

Unit 3

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  Microaggressions and Counseling American Indians/Native Americans and Alaska Natives and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

  Microaggressions and Counseling American Indians/Native Americans and Alaska Natives and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders As you can see, counselors work with clients from diverse backgrounds, each coming to the counseling session with their own values, beliefs, worldview, and experiences. For many marginalized clients, this may mean they have experienced discrimination, oppression, racism, prejudices, and microaggressions. Microaggressions, which are everyday messages, such as insults, invalidations, and put-downs that target a group, and can cause serious and painful psychological distress. This unit also covers counseling American Indians/Native Americans and Alaska Natives and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the many disparities these individuals experience.Objectives:

  • Define and describe microaggressions.
  • Evaluate the psychological impact of microaggressions on marginalized groups and their impact on counseling.
  • Apply knowledge of microaggressions to understanding the therapeutic process and client/counselor dynamics.
  • Examine the demographics and characteristics of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, analyzing how this may influence the counseling assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

  Activities:

  • Read, view, and engage with Readings and Resources.
  • Actively participate in the Unit Discussions.
  • Complete and submit the Unit 3 Assignment.
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  Readings and Resources

  Readings and ResourceseBook:Sue, D.W., Sue, D., Neville, H.A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse. John Wiley & Sons. Microaggressions represent daily stressors in the lives of marginalized groups in the United States. Microaggressions have been found to be emotionally harmful and psychologically taxing to those who experience them. Through counseling, clients are encouraged to explore their feelings about experiences/incidents that relate to their race, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Counselors have an obligation to their clients and that is to seek to understand the client’s worldview and thus includes microaggressions.

  • Chapter 6: Microaggressions in Counseling and Psychotherapy

  This chapter focuses on the disparities, racism, discrimination, and oppression American Indians/Native Americans and Alaska Natives historically and currently experience, and to work effectively with this population, counselors must be knowledgeable of these experiences as well as of the American Indians/Native Americans and Alaska Natives client’s values of sharing, cooperation, spirituality, and nonverbal communication.

  • Chapter 15: Counseling American Indians/Native Americans and Alaska Natives

  This chapter focuses on the disparities, racism, discrimination, and prejudices Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders historically and currently experience, and to work effectively with this population, counselors must be knowledgeable of these experiences as well as of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders client’s values of hierarchical relationships, parenting styles, academic and professional goals and holistic orientation that often contrast Euromerican characteristics.

  • Chapter 16: Counseling Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

  Articles, Websites, and Videos:Microaggressions and their effects on the therapeutic process.

  • Granger, Jr., N. (2012). Microaggressions and their effects on the therapeutic process. American Psychological Association.

  This article defines microaggression and gives some examples of common microaggressions.

  • Microaggression. (2021). Psychology Today.

  Please watch all of the chapter six videos affiliated with your textbook.

  • Sue, D.W., Sue, D., Neville, H.A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse. John Wiley & Sons.
    • Introduction
    • Mistakes in Microaggressions
    • Overt and Covert Microaggressions
    • Counseling Distress
    • Counselor Reconciliation
    • Counseling Session Analysis

  Resources:This publication is one of the American Counseling Association’s adopted competencies that promotes the development of counselors who are able to ethically and effectively attend to the needs of multicultural and marginalized groups.

  • American Counseling Association. (2018). American Counseling Association Advocacy Competencies.