Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice [Hardcover]

Derald Wing Sue (Author), David Sue (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2002 | ISBN-10: 047141980X | ISBN-13: 978-0471419808 | Edition: 4

The bestselling resource and most cited reference in multicultural counseling and therapy

Thoroughly revised, Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice, Fourth Edition is "the classic" in the field of multicultural counseling and therapy. This latest edition offers a contemporary expansion of the definition of multicultural counseling that pushes the boundaries of the field and allows for a more inclusive and meaningful way of looking at and treating diverse populations.

Noted experts Derald Wing Sue and David Sue have updated the book to include new developments in research, theory, and practice. Major additions include: a more expansive definition of multiculturalism; the most recent statistics on the changing complexion of society; and implications for counseling and clinical practice that these changes have precipitated, which are forcing clinicians to redefine their roles and reeducate themselves on how to tend to these varied populations.

Completely updated, Counseling the Culturally Diverse includes:

• New chapters on counseling biracial/multiracial populations, women, gays/lesbians, the physically challenged, the elderly, and monocultural organizations
• A new section in every chapter covering "Implications for Clinical Practice"
• Updated chapters on counseling African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans
• New clinical case studies and real-life examples illustrating the concepts of multicultural counseling and therapy in action

Combining a sound conceptual framework for multicultural counseling with proven therapeutic methods for specific populations, Counseling the Culturally Diverse remains the best source of real-world counseling preparation for students and the most enlightened and influential guide for all mental health professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"We have come a long way from 1972 when AMCD was initially chartered as the Association of Non-White Concerns in Personnel and Guidance. Derald Wing Sue and David Sue's new book, COUNSELING THE CULTURALLY DIVERSE, opens with a giant bull's-eye that very elegantly depicts the current conceptualization of multiculturals and diversity. This conceptualization is complex, with a focus on addressing multiple components and layers such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religious preference, culture, disability/ability, ethnicity, geographic location, age and even marital status." —Counseling Today (ACA publication), David Kaplan, President of ACA

From the Back Cover

The bestselling resource and most cited reference in multicultural counseling and therapy

Thoroughly revised, Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice, Fourth Edition is "the classic" in the field of multicultural counseling and therapy. This latest edition offers a contemporary expansion of the definition of multicultural counseling that pushes the boundaries of the field and allows for a more inclusive and meaningful way of looking at and treating diverse populations.

Noted experts Derald Wing Sue and David Sue have updated the book to include new developments in research, theory, and practice. Major additions include: a more expansive definition of multiculturalism; the most recent statistics on the changing complexion of society; and implications for counseling and clinical practice that these changes have precipitated, which are forcing clinicians to redefine their roles and reeducate themselves on how to tend to these varied populations.

Completely updated, Counseling the Culturally Diverse includes:

• New chapters on counseling biracial/multiracial populations, women, gays/lesbians, the physically challenged, the elderly, and monocultural organizations
• A new section in every chapter covering "Implications for Clinical Practice"
• Updated chapters on counseling African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans
• New clinical case studies and real-life examples illustrating the concepts of multicultural counseling and therapy in action

Combining a sound conceptual framework for multicultural counseling with proven therapeutic methods for specific populations, Counseling the Culturally Diverse remains the best source of real-world counseling preparation for students and the most enlightened and influential guide for all mental health professionals.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 4 edition (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047141980X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471419808
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a mixed bag, September 3, 2004

By 

show me the love "psychology graduate student" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

This is a controversial and challenging book as the previous reviews attest to. In my opinion, the negative feedback can be partially attributed to the rather overt biases the authors obviously have (rather ironic given the topic of the book). However, for all the faults of the book, the authors do challenge one's beliefs- an important aspect given that the intent of the book is to made future counselors more culturally competant.

Perhaps the authors can eliminate some of the harsh reaction to the book by taking the following steps in preparing the next edition (provided that there is one):

*include other groups- Where is the discussion on individuals from the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East? They have apparently been lumped in with "Asians" though there are significant differences between an individual from Saudi Arabia and one from Taiwan. Given the increased discrimination and hostility towards these groups since 9/11, the silence from the authors is deafening. Also, their discussion of "women" and "gender issues" totally leaves out stereotypes of males. How can one have a dialogue on gender issues if one is only addressing one gender?

*address heterogeneity of African Americans- The authors are quick to note how heterogeneous the Asian American and American Indian/Native Alaskan population is but make no mention of the heterogeneity of African Americans. Why is this?

*avoid loaded language

*make sure that statements that appear as fact have sources and that they are used apporpriately- The lack of sources for bold/controversial statements of "fact" and improperly used sources hurt the credibility of the book (check at random for examples).

*show a little more respect for the heterogeneity and diversity of Euro-Americans- the authors justify this by asking the question: "If you want to understand oppression, should you ask the oppressor or the oppressed?" (p. 239). Hum. Well, OK but how does this perspective help one understand this group's heritage, beliefs, values, and the cultural influence they have? Assuming that the majority of the readers are Euro-American, how does labeling all Whites as racist help this group? Is the blatant disrespect shown this group a good model for how this group should respond to other groups? If individuals from this group are to work through their cultural identity, how does this perspective help them? I recommend that the authors have their Euro-American students read a draft of this chapter for the next edition and then reflectively consider the feedback rather than blowing it off as racism.

While I did feel challenged in some ways by this text, I failed to get what I truly longed for from it- A thoughtful and balanced look at the multicultural issues facing the U.S.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars They meant well, April 7, 2006

By 

Steve Reedy (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

It is sad that the book used by so many schools to introduce therapists to the subject of cultural diversity is a collection of generalized stereotypes. The first few chapters are dedicated to showing white people how wrong, misguided, and privileged they are. They group all white people into one defined category of unintentionally delusional racists. Their argument is that psychotherapy, in its current state, works for white people and not other minorities. Though, in some aspects, this may be true, their tone implies that this is because the creators were racist. What the Sues fail to point out is that the creators were not necessarily racist, they were white, they knew about white culture, and developed theories based on their experiences. It is my hope that the Sues will change the tone of their book before its next printing as it can turn away people who do not feel like defending themselves against their stereotypes. If you have not been assigned this book for a class, you may be better off reading something else until the Sues are able to let go of their own racist biases.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Biased work written by blatantly angry people, February 9, 2006

By 

Michael D. Baker "Mike Baker" (Clemson, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

Sue and Sue are generally objective, comprehensive individuals, but this book was utterly antithetical to their usual work. This book is blatantly anti-white as oppossed to multiculturally sensitive. The authors focused on a select few minority groups and their issues rather than identifying other minority groups that are in need (i.e. Eastern Europeans, Same-sex, etc.). This could have been accomplished had they done away with the multiple chapters dedicated to griping about the biased majority/white males.

As flawed as it is, it does have some upsides. The latter chapters that deal with particular cultural/racial mores/worldviews and general psychosocial makeup were highly viable and beneficial. There are also several identity development models that are somewhat useful.

All in all, the book is approx. 40% biased and 60% educational/useful. If you can stand the whinning that goes on throughout the book - particularly in the early chapters - and can get to the meat of the last chapters, than buy it used to get your money's worth. If you are expecting a comprehensive, objective review of multicultural counseling/therapeutic models, then save your money for a journal and/or publication.

A graduate student's review.