Episode 2 Misconceptions About Multicultural Competence

Episode 2-Common Misconceptions About Multicultural Competence

Episode 2

Introduction This episode focuses on six specific commonly held misconceptions about multicultural competence that serve as obstacles to staying on the lifelong journey of multicultural competence.

Episode 2 Summary

The six misconceptions discussed in this podcast episode are:

• multicultural refers only to race and ethnicity

• multicultural competence requires only learning about the ways in which “they” (marginalized people) are different from “us” (dominant group)

• that 3-credit course on multiculturalism required in all approved graduate mental health programs gives you everything that you need to be multiculturally competent

• if you are a member of a marginalized group, then your life experiences with marginalization have earned you a Ph.D. in multicultural competence and

• your good intentions are what matter most.

Episode 2 Reflection

Reflection Exercise

It’s a good idea to sit down with your feet flat on the floor, your spine straight and body as relaxed as possible. Take a few more deep breaths and slowly release them. Now think about the six misperceptions discussed in this episode. (see above episode summary) Have you held any of these misconceptions? If so, which one has felt most true for you. What do you think might be the source of that belief? If you still hold this belief, what do you think would have to happen for you to reconsider the accuracy of this belief? If your belief has already shifted, what do you belief allowed you to open to a shift in this belief?

Resources Mentioned

CEMPSYCH, LLC email signup

CEMPSYCH, LLC

CEMPSYCH, LLC Facebook Page

Bad Fit Documentary

Additional Information about Bad Fit Documentary

November 1 Workshop at Columbia University’s Center for Complicated Grief-The Influences of Religion and Spirituality on Grief and Mourning: Implications for Grief Counseling

Racial Trauma: Theory, Research, and Healing Special issue of American Psychologist January 2019 pdf

Tina Malia

Gratitude

I am grateful that you have found this podcast. My wish is that something in this episode will resonate with you in some way. Perhaps, it will help you to see yourself and/or other multicultural beings in a different light. Even more, I hope it sparks something that connects you more deeply to your heart chakra.

I am also grateful for the invitation from Rebecca Wong to appear as a guest on her Connectfulness podcast to discuss more about multicultural competence. Rebecca reached out to me and offered to be a mentor when I first spoke aloud of my intention to create this podcast. She was one of the first individuals to listen to the podcast when it launched. Rebecca-thank you for truly seeing me and recognizing the importance of this work.

To beautiful composer and songstress Tina Malia, I offer my deepest gratitude for giving me permission to use portions of your song The Lost Frontier from the CD of same title, as the intro and outro of this podcast.

Connecting

I hope you will share this and future episodes of the Reflections on Multicultural Competence podcast with your friends, family, and colleagues on social media. I want to encourage you to leave a review of this podcast episode-but with one caveat. Topics related to multiculturalism can be challenging and have the potential to be upsetting. The purpose of the podcast is to encourage reflection on aspects of multicultural competence, particularly our own biases and assumptions. So, I would like to encourage you to consider a moment of mindfulness-being present to what you are feeling and thinking without overreacting-before writing a review. Thank you!