Creating Cultural Competence: An Outreach Immersion Experience in Southern Africa

• DOI: 10.1007/s10447-011-9138-0
• Publication Date: 2011-10-05T09:11:43Z
• Authors: Cirecie West-Olat...; Rachael D. Goodman; Sejal Mehta; Laura Templeton
• Keywords: Cultural awareness; 4. Education; 05 social sciences; Outreach and immersion experiences; Counselor training; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Disaster counseling

With disasters on the rise, counselors need to increase their cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills to work with affected communities. This study reports outcomes of a four-week immersion experience in southern Africa with six counselor-trainees. Data sources for this qualitative study were: daily journals and demographic forms. Outcomes suggest that sustained contact with community residents and daily supervision experiences served to improve cultural awareness. Recommendations include pushing through students’ resistance using a non-linear dynamic model of transformation.