Redefining Mental Health: A Systematic Literature Review of Multicultural Counselling in Applied Science

This preregistration marks the first step in developing a limited, nonintervention-based systematic review on redefining mental health and multicultural counselling. Multicultural counselling, a distinct form of therapy, holds the transformative potential to develop trustful therapeutic relationships by acknowledging the intersectionality of our clients. It must conceptualize the dynamic changes in individuals due to sociocultural influencers. Addressing race, culture, and multiple identities is not just an ethical responsibility but a powerful tool for all therapists, regardless of their racial background (Drustrup, 2020). For too long, scholarly attention and research on culturally focused counselling have been confined to a Western psychology model and Western-based randomized control trials. This approach overlooks the profound influence of sociocultural values on individuals' perceptions of their existence, environment, and conditions. By broadening our research scope beyond homogenous groups, we can better understand the role of implicit bias and unconscious stereotyping in our responses to research questions. As therapists, it is crucial to master the skills of working with trauma survivors. This mastery involves not only applying our multicultural counselling competencies and techniques but also staying mindful of who the client is (Kuo Ben et al., 2020). Transference and countertransference, as non-verbal meaning-making and communication styles, play a pivotal role in recognizing the ruptures, evaluating the ethical boundaries, and preventing emotional reasoning ( (Aasan & Nordtug, 2022). This process requires a high level of self-awareness and self-reflection. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as therapists to engage in proper response processes, constantly questioning our own biases and worldviews (Chambers-Baltz et al., 2021). Therefore, in mastering multicultural counselling skills, conceptualizing the diverse intersectionality of our clients is the core. The binary between white and non-white client populations is not holding itself anymore due to the multiple disparities and multifaceted individual identities being the new norm. Therapeutic relationships influence effective therapy outcomes, while positive therapy outcomes inquire about mastery of multicultural counselling, the therapist’s awareness, and capacity for working on the implicit biases and worldviews about our diverse cultural groups. (Gran-Ruaz et al., 2022). In determining multicultural counselling, we need multicultural views on what has been presented as this practice: self-awareness, self-reflection, and unconditional regard. Yet, multicultural counsellors and mental health practitioners need to come forward for an inclusive discussion on how cultural influencers sometimes make the practice of counselling and psychotherapy different. Conducting a systematic literature review helps to undrestand the multicultural view of the concept. Specifically, this review will focus on the Iranian way of conceptualizing multicultural counselling and how mental health in the Iranian community is a multilingual and multifaceted phenomenon. References Aasan, O. J., & Nordtug, B. (2022). Experience in managing countertransference through self-guided imagery in meditation among healthcare professionals. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1–11. https://doi.org/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.793784/full Chambers-Baltz, S., Knutson, D., Becerra, M., Hughes, A., Cantu Cantu, L., & Cadaret, M. (2021). Determined to improve: An exploration of therapist perspectives about their development. Psychotherapy, 58(4), 437–448. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000399 Drustrup, D. (2020). White therapists addressing racism in psychotherapy: an ethical and clinical model for practice. Ethics & Behavior, 30(3), 181–196. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2019.1588732 Gran-Ruaz, S., Feliciano, J., Bartlett, A., & Williams, M. T. (2022). Implicit racial bias across ethnoracial groups in Canada and the United States and Black mental health. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie Canadienne, 63(4), 608–622. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000323 Kuo Ben, C. H., Kendall, S., & Siqi, H. (2020). Developing Clinical Trainees’ Multicultural Counseling Competencies Through Working with Refugees in a Multicultural Psychotherapy Practicum: a Mixed-Methods Investigation. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 42(3), 249–268. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-019-09392-8

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