A Perspective on How Counseling Curricula can Enhance Workforce Diversity Practices

Introduction

This chapter explores how counseling curricula can contribute to workforce diversity curricula and practices. An overview of workforce diversity and workforce diversity education is included. Next, a summary of the antecedents of the counseling profession, history of multicultural counseling, and core multicultural competencies that gird the profession are explored. Following is a discussion of three specific courses within counseling curricula (Diversity and Social Justice in Counseling, Counseling Skills, and Group Counseling). Content from these courses can be integrated into workforce diversity courses to enhance interpersonal communication in the workplace.

Additionally, opportunities for reflection and discussion of the counseling skills in workplace settings are provided. Specifically, critical discussion questions and a case study are included. The goal of the critical discussion questions is to enhance critical thinking skills and initiate discussions between classmates and the instructor. These questions can be used as journal starters to reflect in an ongoing journal or questions for small group discussions in class. The case study provides a real-life work scenario focused on multicultural concerns. The purpose of this case vignette is to analyze the various dynamics between the employee (Ana), her supervisor (Beverly), and co-worker (Mark). Furthermore, the case study encourages classroom discussion regarding the application of counseling principles in workforce diversity situations.

After reading this chapter, you will be able to:

• 1.

  Describe the historical roots of counseling and how it relates to the field of workforce diversity.

• 2.

  Explain how counseling curricula can be an applicable to workforce diversity curricula.

• 3.

  Analyze a work-related case study and brainstorm appropriate counseling skills to use in the case scenario from a culturally competent perspective.