Running head: M3_A2_MORALES_RELIGIOUSDIVERSITY.

DOC

M3_A2_Morales_ReligiousDiversity.doc
Glendon Morales
Argosy University

M3_A2_Morales_ReligiousDiversity.doc

Summary on religion chosen

Since Ive been working on the job, Ive been getting more and more Native
Americans as patients. Even though they are mandated because of the situation they are in, they
seem to be willing to attend therapy. They do like to blame a lot on culture to include their
religion, especially when they think that the therapist does not know about the religion. The
Native Americans religions are the spiritual practices of the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Traditional Native American ceremonial ways can vary widely, and are based on the differing
histories and beliefs of individual tribes, clans and bands. Early European explorers describe
individual Native American tribes and even small bands as each having their own religious
practices. (en.wikipedia.org). The Native American religion is not easy to explain. There were
many tribes and the traditional religious principles were passed on verbally. Each tribe had their
own beliefs, at the same time they were similar in the major aspects. The Native American
religion focuses on nature. Landscape, plants, animals and other environmental elements are a
major role in the Native Americans religions. A lot of the legends that were passed down were to
explain events that occurred in nature. The religion has a number of ceremonies and traditions
that are in honor of certain events. There is also a practice in the Native American Religion to
take certain hallucinogenics to gain greater insight or to communicate with the gods. There are
ceremonies that include music, dance, feast and other performances. In the Native American
Religion they dont address their religious leaders as preachers or clergymen, they are called
shaman and medicine men. These are the individuals that communicate with the gods. This was
the wise and experienced individual that maintained a higher level of status with the tribe.

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Summary on ethnic and religious diversity in the chosen locale

Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee and the surrounding areas are very diverse communities.
These Cities consist of White, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islanders, African-American, Native
Americans, other races and multi-ethnic families make up the population in these areas.
The areas of and around Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee (Riverside County), that I will
be working with in the religious population varies from, Catholic, Cristian, Jewish and The
Native American Religion, which I have been seeing more and more of, and my knowledge of
the Native American Religion is limited.
In order to be fully competent and serve the community, a therapist should conduct
further research on the culture and religious belief of the area that will be served. One other
issues to consider in this area is the blending family. Due to the diversity of the area, different
cultures are being blended together to create new blended families. With these families, not only
are the traditions being combined or changed, but there is also a struggle with religious beliefs,
and or which religion do we raise our kids in. Before the Native American religion was not
considered to be a religion. Because of the complexity of their religion, their beliefs were not
understood. It also was because they have no written guidelines.
This therapist has a better working knowledge of the cultural and religion in the area. The
Hispanic / Latino community in the area are majority Catholic but there are also Christians. The
White American community in the area has a small percentage that practice the Jewish fate or
Jehovah Witness, the majority seems to be Christian. The majority of then Black American
community in the area are Christian. There are some that are catholic and Jehovah Witness. The
Asian community in the area, the younger generation seem to be moving toward Christianity.

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The approach it would take to work with a client from this background
Courduf states that Native Americans have maintained a rich culture and a strong
heritage, that makes them a difficult patient for a therapist that is not Native American.
Constance Courduf (1994). This therapist believes that this is changing, especially with the
younger generation. It seems that the younger generation is willing to work with different
cultural therapist in order to learn a new way of viewing situations. It seems to be more of a
justification for change than any other reason.
One of the techniques to use to counsel Native Americans is by using Bibliotherapy. It is
a technique that uses books to help a patient solve their problems. Another is Narrative therapy,
which is successful with Native Americans due to the strong influences on storytelling in their
culture. One other technique that has been working with the younger Native American is
Cognitive Behavior Therapy. The lessons learned is a positive and effective way to use CBT
with Native Americans. It can be easily combined with storytelling or history. It is beneficial to
the client, and it is not hard for therapist to learn to use it. CBT also works well for this
population because the therapist will establish a therapeutic and nonjudgmental alliance with the
client. The therapist, among other things, should build a relationship with the local Native
American communities. The therapist also will pay attention to incorporate spirituality into the
counseling of a Native American. Once the therapist is familiar with that particular tribes
beliefs and experiences, CBT can be used to help the client process them to feel empowered and
liberating.

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Put forth a scenario and treatment plan for researched summaries

The first is to build a rapport with Native American clients? Clients should be welcomed
warmly and offered refreshments, such as water, coffee, or tea. Intake paperwork should be
minimized and clients should be encouraged to describe the problem from their point of view.
Cover significant barriers that prevents Native Americans from getting counseling for
their problems. Some of the barriers are stigma, mistrust, or fear of being judged, dysfunctional
systems of care, and racial discrimination.
The therapist should build relationships with the local Native communities. Find out
more information on the issues without revealing the clients confidentiality; speak with tribal
elders.
Incorporate spirituality into counseling with Native American clients? It probably would
be very important to the majority of the clients.
Do not use any techniques that may be considered Native American rituals unless
properly trained.
When doing culture assessment it is important to examine acculturation. Using Berrys
Model of acculturation. Some questions to effectively assess Acculturation.
What language do you speak?
What language do you prefer?
How do you self-identify?
Which ethnic identification does (did) your mother and father use?
What was the ethnic origin of the friends or peers you had as a child?
Whom do you now associate with in the outside community?

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What is your music/television/movie preference?
Where were you born?
Where were you raised?
What is your food preference?
What language do you read/write/think ?
How much pride do you have in your ethnic group?

Realize that the concept of cultural competence is very important. The therapist should
make sure that they maintain cultural competence, this process should be a Constant.

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Reference
Native American Counseling Techniques | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/info_8054553_native-american-counselitechniques.html#ixzz2B92qG2Tv
Constance Courduff eHow Native (2011) American Counseling Techniques, Americans,"Journal
of Indigenous
Research: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 3. at:http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir/vol1/iss1/3
Malcolm Robertson, Lyn Raible (2015) Cognitive-behavior therapy and the Native American
client, Western Michigan University
Timothy Thomason Best Practices in Counseling Native Americans Volume 23, Issue 3,
Summer 1992, Pages 321340 Copyright 1992 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
.

References
http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-religion.html
http://www.mymurrieta.com/about/demo.php by John E. Husing Ph.D.

Behavioral Health Evolution

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Dr. Mark McGovern, Applying CBT
2015 Hazelden Foundation