Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice

by Derald Wing Sue, David Sue, Helen A. Neville

The most up-to-date edition of a critically acclaimed and widely read cross-cultural counseling resource In the newly revised Ninth Edition of Counseling the Culturally Theory and Practice , a team of veteran practitioners delivers an up-to-date and comprehensive exploration of multicultural counseling combining the most recent research and theoretical concepts in the field. The book examines concepts like “cultural humility,” the role of white allies in multicultural counseling, social justice counseling, “minority stress,” and microaggressions. Readers will also Perfectly suited to researchers and practitioners who work in or study mental health and interact with a racially, ethnically, culturally, or socio-demographically diverse population, Counseling the Culturally Theory and Practice also belongs in the libraries of social workers and psychiatrists.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Textbooks, Nonfiction, School, Grad School, Education

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Derald Wing Sue is a professor of counseling psychology at Columbia University. He has authored several books, including Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice, Overcoming our Racism, and Understanding Abnormal Behavior.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can understand how no one has noticed how incredibly poor the arguments and assumptions are, as most people are not critical readers or have taken classes in logic. Clearly Sue hasn't.

What I can't understand is how no one has noticed how incredibly racist this book is. Although there are innumerable examples this should suffice: African American families are often single parent and rely on outside support and extended family because they have a tribal heritage so this comes more naturally to them.

This book is dated, a la 1993 PC Liberal culture, and not particularly insightful beyond helping to avoid totally gigantic racist comments.

fail.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, be careful criticizing this book. The all knowing and wise author has covered the bases. If you are white and have critiques it is simply because you are either in denial, experiencing emotional resitance, behavioral resitance, or youre possibly just a racist. You see, this book does not combat bias or racism it merely convinces you that all white people hold the collective guilt of being racists by default and must be deprogrammed. The once true saying "no one is born a racist" is only true if youre not white. Basically, this book is the noble savage fallacy on steroids. If you're white, sit down and shut up because youre a dirty and horrible racist and Sue is gonna tell you how to make amends for the great sin of being born white. Thank goodness for this woke genius, we would have all been doomed. If youre looking for ways to learn just how racist you are regardless if youve never harbored a racist thought or feeling then this is the book for you!!! Just remember, all disparities or unfaireness is 100% due to racism!!!!

[William O. II · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sue has made his name in multicultural counseling theory. Unfortunately, he's late to the game, appears more biased than he assumes his readers to be and offers ridiculous examples and arguments that defy basic logic.

Counseling students will probably continue to be forced to read Sue's work without any supplemental (possibly opposing?) discourses to complicate (and elaborate) the subject.

Skip this book (and his others) if you can.

[Simoné · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish this book because I felt like it was more geared towards teaching privileged straight white counselors how to develop cultural competence when working with people of color.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well...I like the IDEA of this book. However, I felt that it was too repetitive (repeating the same thing multiple times in a chapter).

This book was thought-provoking and helped me to understand my own thoughts and experiences with my racial identity, and realize that I have a lot of white privilege. (This is something I may have thought I had before...but not to this degree of understanding.)

The inconsistent parts of the book being the last half or so. The first half of the book kept emphasizing how no ethnic/racial identity is the same...and the last half were chapters devoted to discussing (& generalizing) each racial group, and then special population (elderly, women, Jewish, GLBT) with tips and suggestions on how to work with each group (which is what it said you couldn't really do..). Oh well.

I feel WHOLE HEARTEDLY that I would have given this book a higher rating if the redundancies were taken out. If you have to say the same thing over and over, and over again...obviously the book should just be shorter.

[Rachel Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably the most incredibly written and informative textbook I’ve read. The writer is knowledgeable and I was challenged in new ways. My biggest takeaway: western individualism is the foundation of most counseling practices, and must be dismantled or altered if we are to counsel collectivist cultures.

[Jeremy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is really important that you not let stereotypes cloud your counseling, so here is a book full of stereotypes about every major culture! This book makes no sense and made me wince frequently.

[Storm Chase · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the surface, it seems ok if you've never lived in a multicultural society or travelled but I found it very parochial. However, when you get into it, there are deeper problems.

For example, the case study where a Mexican worker visits a US hospital complaining of hallucinations.

1. The authors say Mexicans see hallucinations as gifts from the gods and imply the counsellor should take this into account. Maybe some Mexicans do have that beleif still, but as this family hightailed it to a hospital, asking to see a medical doctor, that information is moot.

2. The authors suggest he and his family are seen by the counsellor, which is highly unlikely. People who go to hospital are assessed by a doctor in A&E. Hallucinations would be further evaluated by a physician or a psychiatrist. If the man worked in agriculture he may see a toxicologist as certain chemicals esp in field can have such effects. A counsellor isn't qualified for this situation although they may be called in later for genral support.

3. The authors suggest the counsellor should go and see the family at home because the client is poor and lacks transport. Really? In the US where insurance typically only covers you if you are in the hospital? There is also the sub-text assumption that counsellors are rich, own transport and can afford to travel to see their clients.

I found this book to be riddled with such problems. It has no spelling and grammar errors so it's not a one star but really, it's not worth buying.

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most Americans are Christians, and America was built on Christian principles, but these authors ignore this fact and write the textbook from an atheistic view of Whites. It mentions quite a bit about other cultures' religions and spirituality but does not present any ideas from Christian religion or spirituality. Therefore, it gives a very narrow view of White's behaviors and attitudes toward other cultures. For instance, it mentions the negatives of slavery but does not once mention those who fought against slavery, like the underground railroad. Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush started the first anti-slavery society but did the authors say any of this? No. It demonizes Whites and presents all other cultures as superior. If you were looking for a balanced view on culture, this book is not it. I was very disappointed.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derald Wing Sur and David Sue have been studying multiculturalism for many years. Although they have some cultural bias as Asians, they would also admit that they are not the definitive voice in the very broad world of multiculturalism. This book reminds the reader of his own ethnocentricity and asks for a willingness to recognize how people who are different from us are often disenfranchised as an inferior version of the "other." This is an important work if you plan to work with diverse groups.

[Scott Paxman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heavy Left Bias. and at points very ironic. The author himself is Asian and sits on the pinnacle of privilege, but then invalidates all opinions that do not come from minorities...(Asians outperform every race, including whites, in health, education, and wealth in US)
Weak arguments with HEAVY assumptions. Many collective judgements
There is every once in a while something that may apply to therapy, but most of it I do not think would help another individual...

[TheModestMillennial · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overtly racist and victimizing

[Cori · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you've been craving a good read riddled with logical fallacies, this book is for you. If you want to read a comical book in which the author repeatedly and unwittingly backs themselves into a corner with their own arguments, this book is for you. If you want a book on circular reasoning where the author tells the reader not to be racist and proceeds to make some of the most opinionated and racist statements you've heard since Whoopi Goldberg joined The View, well-well... have I got a good book for you.

[Adam Marquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good in the area of cultural concerns in counseling. The information/ content within is good, but it feels forced. I will give an example to express what I mean. I am a Mexican-American individual. When I came to sections in the book which dealt with, 'Hispanics', 'Latinos', 'Mexicans', Mexican Americans', etc., I kept thinking to myself: "The authors have a keen profound insight, on the topic, in many regards, however, if I were in a counseling session with them employing the tactics they suggest on me, I would be very uncomfortable; I would feel patronized, or sterilely manipulated, and would leave counseling, perhaps never to try again.

[Justin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you want to ask about oppression in a society, should you ask the oppressor or the oppressed?"

May us white people all encounter a moral dilemma/life situation that embarks us on a journey of white racial awakening.

Racial identity development models - full conformity to the dominant culture leads to mental health concerns.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super repetitive and very black-and-white. Discusses the problem more than offering strategies for providing culturally competent therapy. Frustrating, but worthy of consideration.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue and Sue's Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice is a classic. It's also a book to return to (I first read the 3rd ed. when it came out).

Judging by Goodread's reviews, it's also a controversial book. Sue and Sue start Counseling the Culturally Diverse with examples of both the positive and negative reviews they've received from students and workshop attendees. A White Male:

I am offended that you seem to think that the United States is the only perpetrator of prejudice and horrific acts. Excuse me sir, but racism and oppression are part of every society in the world ad infinitum, not just the United States. I do not appreciate reading biased material that does not take into account all forms of prejudice including those from minorities. You obviously have a bone to grind with White people. Minorities are equally racist. Why do you take such pleasure in attacking whites when we have done so much to help you people? (p. 7)

And from a Latina:

This book has spoken to me and given me so much knowledge that is beyond words to express. Finally, there is someone willing to tell it like it is. (p. 7)

Did I say that they have balls?

In a country where my president can deny being a racist with a straight face (while doing things that look pretty darn racist), these quotes can be helpful in understanding race, racism, and many other isms – and a powerful beginning to their book. Sue and Sue continue this pattern throughout Counseling the Culturally Diverse, using first person descriptions, news reports, statistics and more as a way of reperceiving and understanding race, social class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and gender identity, and ability.

At more than 800 pages, Counseling the Culturally Diverse is not a walk in the park. It also feels somewhat repetitive in various sections. Judging by some of the comments Sue and Sue include, however, length and repetition are often needed.

[Analie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this textbook very useful as a practicum student. It's packed with research, culturally sensitive tips for clients of various ethnicities, and models to understand racial identity development. I think it would be a stronger text if it emphasized the importance of exploring one's intersectional identity for every therapist, not solely minorities, because that can lead those of the dominant culture to appreciate the value of this process. Nonetheless, it is amazingly broad in the number of groups it touches on and the counseling issues involved. I especially loved that the authors included a chapter about working with people with disabilities.

[Samma]

For class

[Jolee Cave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 9th edition and it seems to have a lot of better, updated information!

[Susan Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this book. There are models in it for every kind of diversity that exists. You are challenged here to acknowledge your own subconscious bias and micro-aggressions as a white person and as a minority. Absolutely mind-blowing. If you are not prepared to be responsible for your thinking, your actions and behavior towards anyone different from you, then this book will open up all kinds of wounds that need healing. For those that are, you will find this most enlightening. It was shocking to me to see my peers responses to diversity, from diverse human beings. No doubt challenges white fragility, minority assimilation and advocacy, something I am used to and others are not. I felt like a foreign human being in this course. My thinking is diverse. It is sad to see the droves of human beings that are close minded. This addresses intergenerational trauma big-time. If this book pisses you off, you need to address WHY within yourself. This book should not anger a healthy, rational thinking human being.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a good reason that Sue and Sue are the gold standard in multicultural therapy. The unflinching light shone on racism and monoculturalism and bias against LGBTQ people in American society and in the counseling world can be shocking at times. For anyone reading the text who believes he/she is "woke", it can even feel harsh. But the level of frankness also comes with a genuine warmth and a sense of hope for change. Most importantly, it comes with practical approaches to the needs of clients from all backgrounds. This is a resource that I will turn to frequently in my work. Highly recommend.

[Chelsie Heichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book requires having a open mind and also requires a lot of self-reflection and humbleness. I learned so much in this text. I agree with other reviewers that it is repetitive, but at the same time I think this repetition is great for learning and solidifying the information in our minds. I especially loved the chapters at the end of the text that focus on groups I have learned little about how to best counsel and serve. I highly recommend this text for anyone who is open to listen to the narratives of those different than you.

[Daniel Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very basic, this version is quite outdated. I found this one at a used bookstore and it was cheap. I'm interested in looking for the updated version. It does offer insight, but anyone who works within the social justice community probably has equally as good a background as this book can offer. There are a few angles that are new, and that's useful. I would recommend this book as a good 101 for white/privileged providers that haven't examined their biases.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously this book exists for a reason and I could believe that people think it’s somewhat comprehensive and a good overview. To me, it’s lacking in some serious ways and does not address some fundamental issues that could provide a counselor who accepts the basic premise of racism/anti-racism more skills and nuance.

[Sarah Ridenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, although difficult to read at times, is an absolute eye opener. It's content verges upon the disturbing, but it is absolutely necessary for any who wish to learn as much as possible about other cultures and how our normal proclivities may distress them.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars — read this book for my Multicultural Counseling course. I loved the idea of the book, but not so much the application and execution. Perusing through the other reviews, I don’t think I’m alone in that thought.

[Candra Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I'm reading it for a class and not for sheer enjoyment, this book is so informative and is a must for anyone who wants insight on other cultures.

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't read this POS. Read later editions. They improved the text considerably. Read my review of the 6th edition for specifics.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.9)

Used with Liberty University Online's PSYC 351 Multicultural Counseling and Research Issues.