on a routine basis is rather common. Despite its ubiquitousness, disparity continues to exist in the counselling delivery with these group of clients. Counsellors can be unravelled by the lack of familiarity with culture-specific knowledge, awareness and skills in their interaction with the diverse clients (Arredondo et al, 1996). Multicultural competence in counselling is defined in this essay as the ability to form the therapeutic alliance with a diverse client in a culturally appropriate manner
This essay will be a discussion and exploration of the essential counsellor qualities that are promoted for the success of a therapeutic alliance in a counselling relationship. From research it has been indicated that the therapeutic alliance (or working alliance) between counsellor and client has a substantial influence on the outcome of counselling. The alliance is seen as a 'positive emotional bond and a sense of mutual collaboration' (Wolfe and Goldfried, 1988) which is recognized between the
The British Association for Counselling’s Code of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors states that ‘Counselling may be concerned with developmental issues, addressing and resolving specific problems, making decisions, coping with crisis, developing personal insight and knowledge, working through feelings of inner conflict or improving relationships with others’ (BACP Ethical Framework). After learning about the various theories of counseling in this semester, I realized that the three that I relate