Tutor: Amanda Smith   Reply to at least 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–300 words. Also, note that “I like what you said,” “That’s a good point,” and “I disagree with your point” do not count as a complete reply. Rather, stating why you liked or disliked the comment, adding additional thoughts or ideas to the original point, and/or providing alternative ideas or thoughts when you disagree will count as a reply. You are required to be courteous in any disagreement with a classmate. Caroline  It is vital for counselors to become culturally competent in their work and this can be accomplished by counselors following and incorporating the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) into their professional practice (Hays & Erford, 2018). The MSJCC outlines four different competencies, including counselor self-awareness, client worldview, counseling relationship, and counseling and advocacy interventions (Hays & Erford, 2018). I believe that the most challenging or uncomfortable competency to develop as a counselor in training is the first competency, counselor self-awareness, but I believe that it is one of the most important competencies that an effective and competent counselor should possess. This competency means that counselors need to be aware of how their personal beliefs, values, and biases impact the counseling relationship and how we view or interact with different cultures or people from various backgrounds (Hays & Erford, 2018). Many people may not be used to or comfortable using introspection to become self-aware about how their social identity, social status, privilege, and oppression affect their worldview. I believe that this can be especially hard for people of privilege, those who are not marginalized, and those who experience very little disadvantages due to their social status or cultural identity. As a white individual who has experienced no discrimination due to my outward appearance or cultural background, I have never really thought much about my unique cultural identity or how my biases or values could be impacting my worldview and interactions with people. It may be uncomfortable to be completely self-aware and to explore personal values and biases, but it is a necessary step for counselors and counselors in training to take to ensure that they can effectively counsel clients from diverse backgrounds (Pieterse, Ritmeester, & Collins, 2013). This is something that I need to work on during my training so that I will be able to be culturally competent and able to work effectively with any group of people no matter their race, ethnicity, or background. The ACA Code of Ethics (2014) §A.4.b., states that counselors need to be “aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors” (p. 5). If counselors take the effort to become fully self-aware, it makes it possible for them to avoid imposing their values or beliefs onto a client, which is congruent with various ...

1. Tutor: Amanda Smith
Reply to at least 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–
300 words. Also, note that “I like what you said,” “That’s a
good point,” and “I disagree with your point” do not count as a
complete reply. Rather, stating why you liked or disliked the
comment, adding additional thoughts or ideas to the original
point, and/or providing alternative ideas or thoughts when you
disagree will count as a reply. You are required to be courteous
in any disagreement with a classmate.
Caroline
It is vital for counselors to become culturally competent in their
work and this can be accomplished by counselors following and
incorporating the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling
Competencies (MSJCC) into their professional practice (Hays &
Erford, 2018). The MSJCC outlines four different competencies,
including counselor self-awareness, client worldview,
counseling relationship, and counseling and advocacy
interventions (Hays & Erford, 2018). I believe that the most
challenging or uncomfortable competency to develop as a
counselor in training is the first competency, counselor self-
awareness, but I believe that it is one of the most important
competencies that an effective and competent counselor should
possess. This competency means that counselors need to be
aware of how their personal beliefs, values, and biases impact
the counseling relationship and how we view or interact with
different cultures or people from various backgrounds (Hays &
Erford, 2018). Many people may not be used to or comfortable
using introspection to become self-aware about how their social
identity, social status, privilege, and oppression affect their

2. worldview. I believe that this can be especially hard for people
of privilege, those who are not marginalized, and those who
experience very little disadvantages due to their social status or
cultural identity. As a white individual who has experienced no
discrimination due to my outward appearance or cultural
background, I have never really thought much about my unique
cultural identity or how my biases or values could be impacting
my worldview and interactions with people. It may be
uncomfortable to be completely self-aware and to explore
personal values and biases, but it is a necessary step for
counselors and counselors in training to take to ensure that they
can effectively counsel clients from diverse backgrounds
(Pieterse, Ritmeester, & Collins, 2013). This is something that I
need to work on during my training so that I will be able to be
culturally competent and able to work effectively with any
group of people no matter their race, ethnicity, or background.
The ACA Code of Ethics (2014) §A.4.b., states that counselors
need to be “aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values,
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors” (p. 5). If counselors take the
effort to become fully self-aware, it makes it possible for them
to avoid imposing their values or beliefs onto a client, which is
congruent with various ethical standards presented in the ACA
Code of Ethics.
Dr. Moitinho’s (2018) presentation on cultural counseling
competencies and the Christian perspective was informative and
provided a great foundation for understanding how biblical
principles can be incorporated into the counseling profession
and working with clients from diverse backgrounds. He touched
on the importance of counselors practicing God’s greatest
commandments, viewing every client from a distinctive biblical
anthropology, being incarnational, overcoming ethnocentrism,
and contextualizing your approach (Moitinho, 2018). I believe
that there is one important Christian principle, working for
social justice and equality, that could be added to his
presentation and would be important for counselors to consider

3. when working with diverse clients. According to Hook and
Davis (2012), throughout the Bible, “there is a consistent theme
that displays God's heart for equality, the oppressed, and social
justice” (p. 104). This shows that Christian counselors should
strive to fight for equality and social justice, which could be
accomplished through participating in justice and advocacy
efforts for clients and people who are underprivileged or from
different cultural backgrounds. A bible verse that backs up the
need for Christians to be involved in social justice and
advocacy efforts for those who are oppressed or marginalized is
Isaiah 1:17 which states, “Learn to do what is good. Pursue
justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the
fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause” (Christian Standard Bible,
2020).
Word Count: 615
References
American Counseling Association (2014). ACA Code of Ethics.
Retrieved from http://counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of
ethics.
Christian Standard Bible
. (2020). Christian Standard Bible.
https://csbible.com/
Hays, D. G., & Erford, B. T. (2018).
Developing multicultural counseling competence: A systems
approach
(3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Hook, J. N., & Davis, D. E. (2012). Integration, multicultural
counseling, and social justice.
Journal of Psychology and Theology
,

4. 40
(2), 102-106.
doi:10.1177/009164711204000203
Moitinho, E. (2018). [Multicultural Counseling Competencies
and the Christian]. Liberty University.
Pieterse, A. L., Lee, M., Ritmeester, A., & Collins, N. M.
(2013). Towards a model of self-awareness development for
counselling and psychotherapy training.
Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 26
(2), 190-207. doi:10.1080/09515070.2013.793451
Bottom of Form
Monica
Top of Form
Upon review of the radical aspects and perceptions
acknowledged among multicultural competencies within the
framework of professional counseling, it is expressly
counterproductive to remain biased and judgmental when
attempting to counsel clients. It is suggested that professional
counselors follow counseling competencies, or a set of
guidelines that, along with steps directed from the Holy Spirit,
allowing for the empathetic encouragement to assist clients
through a multiculturalistic perspective. There are four
multicultural and social justice counseling competencies
addressed in our textbook. The first, Counselor Self-Awareness,
suggests that counselors explore and reflect on their own
attitudes and beliefs with regard to their own self-awareness and
worldview (Hays & Erford, 2018). The second competency,
Client Worldview, lends itself to the notion that counselors

5. understand the view of the world from their client's perspective
(Hays & Erford, 2018). The third competency, Counseling
Relationship, addresses the congruence of the counselor/client
relationship as a system, and how their different statuses
influence the counseling relationship, (Hays & Erford, 2018).
The fourth and final competency, Counseling and Advocacy
Interventions, suggests that counselors intervene, and advocate
on behalf of their client with regard to community, institutional,
and global levels, (Hays & Erford, 2018).
As my career path of becoming a professional counselor
evolves, I see myself challenged mostly with the Competency of
Counseling and Advocacy. This competency engulfs a plethora
of public outlets of which i will need to explore. This
competency also lists such a vast amount of resources needed to
advocate for a client; submerging myself entirely feels
overwhelming.
In Dr. Moitinho's presentation of "Christian Worldviews" within
the counseling profession, he addresses several key components
which exemplify solid Christian principles. His use of Bible
quotes and the correlation constructed among that of the
client/counselor relationship was extremely beneficial to me.
His utilization of Matthew 22:37, "Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,"
(NIV), suggests to counselors to honestly love their clients the
way in which we love God, and to love passionately (Moitinho,
2019b). Additionally, according to Garzon, "Seeing a culture
through a biblical worldview lens attempts to see culture
through God's eyes." (Garzon, 2010c). If I could suggest an
additional Christian principle that I would add to his
presentation, I would choose that of truthfulness. Being honest
with not only others, but also with ourselves allows for healing,
closure, and a positive client/counselor relationship. In John
8:32, the Bible reads: "Then you will know the truth and the
truth will set you free," (GNT).

6. Garzon, F. (2010c). Presentation: Interpreting Culture. Liberty
University.
Hays, D. G., & Erford, B. T. (2018).
Developing multicultural counseling competence; a systems
approach
. New York, NY: Pearson.
Moitinho, E. (2019a). Presentation: Multicultural Counseling
Competencies and the Christian. Liberty University.
Bottom of Form