c) Imagine that one of your first clients is Wanda, a 22-year-old Aboriginal woman with a four-year-old daughter. She has been referred to the organisation for potential placement in a group counselling program designed to assist clients with alcohol dependency. Your role is to conduct the initial interview to determine her suitability for the program. You are keen to begin establishing an effective therapeutic alliance so you greet Wanda with a loud and jovial welcome and shakes her hand before showing her into the office. Once in the office you ask Wanda a series of questions related to the information you are required to gather for the program’s intake form. While you maintain direct eye contact, you notice that Wanda continually looks down at the floor. Additionally, Wanda only seems to respond in a limited “yes” and “no” manner and fails to elaborate even when you ask her to clarify her response. As you continue, Wanda seems to become even more uncooperative and it seems to you that she is disinterested in the program. You notice a thought arising in your own mind, “Why should I help her if she doesn’t even want to help herself?” Consider the impact that cultural factors may be having in this exchange. What assumptions and/or actions are you taking that might be causing issues and how can you change your perspectives and approach to adapt to cultural differences in order to more sensitively engage with Wanda?
Question
c) Imagine that one of your first clients is Wanda, a 22-year-old Aboriginal woman with a four-year-old daughter. She has been referred to the organisation for potential placement in a group counselling program designed to assist clients with alcohol dependency. Your role is to conduct the initial interview to determine her suitability for the program. You are keen to begin establishing an effective therapeutic alliance so you greet Wanda with a loud and jovial welcome and shakes her hand before showing her into the office. Once in the office you ask Wanda a series of questions related to the information you are required to gather for the program’s intake form. While you maintain direct eye contact, you notice that Wanda continually looks down at the floor. Additionally, Wanda only seems to respond in a limited “yes” and “no” manner and fails to elaborate even when you ask her to clarify her response. As you continue, Wanda seems to become even more uncooperative and it seems to you that she is disinterested in the program. You notice a thought arising in your own mind, “Why should I help her if she doesn’t even want to help herself?” Consider the impact that cultural factors may be having in this exchange. What assumptions and/or actions are you taking that might be causing issues and how can you change your perspectives and approach to adapt to cultural differences in order to more sensitively engage with Wanda?
Solution
In this scenario, there are several cultural factors that may be impacting the interaction with Wanda.
Firstly, the loud and jovial greeting may not be culturally appropriate for Wanda. Many Aboriginal cultures value respect and humility, and such a boisterous greeting may be seen as disrespectful or overwhelming.
Secondly, the direct eye contact could be making Wanda uncomfortable. In many Aboriginal cultures, direct eye contact is often considered disrespectful, especially when there is a power differential, such as in a counselling situation.
Thirdly, the assumption that Wanda's limited responses indicate disinterest may not be accurate. In many Aboriginal cultures, silence and listening are highly valued, and it is common to take time to think before responding.
To more sensitively engage with Wanda, you could start by educating yourself about Aboriginal cultures and communication styles. This could involve seeking out cultural sensitivity training or consulting with Aboriginal colleagues or community leaders.
In your interactions with Wanda, you could try to create a more welcoming and respectful environment by moderating your tone and body language. You could also try to be more patient and give Wanda the time she needs to respond.
Finally, it's important to challenge your own assumptions and biases. Just because Wanda's behaviour doesn't align with your expectations doesn't mean she is disinterested or uncooperative. By being open-minded and respectful, you can build a stronger therapeutic alliance with Wanda and better support her in her recovery.
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