Helping Skills for Counselors and Health Professionals

Book excerpt: Helping Skills for Counselors and Health Professionals provides a model of foundational helping skills that is grounded in a multicultural framework. Chapters explicitly examine implicit bias and the role of culture and systems of oppression and marginalization within the lives of both individuals and communities. The text also uses ecological systems theory to assist readers in conceptualizing the ways in which culture influences communication styles, perceptions of professional helpers, and individual needs. Readers will be introduced to concepts that increase awareness of micro and macro-level influences on helping skills, communication, and the patient’s life. Within the book’s multicultural framework, readers will also find tools for increasing self-awareness for improving the communication skills and cultural humility.