Exploring Multicultural Counseling Competence within Intensive In-Community Counseling

Abstract

The issues of multicultural counseling competence within intensive in-community counseling stem from the lack of research on the lived experiences of African American families receiving intensive in-community counseling services. This research project includes exploring the perceptions of counseling experiences within the African American family, examining the perceptions of multicultural counseling competence in the African American family, and providing a document that explores the African American viewpoints of the home-based counseling experience. This study incorporated phenomenological research and used the CCCI-R to rely on the participants' views of the multicultural counseling competence of home-based therapists. The themes include: (a) awareness of cultural differences; (b) comfort in the session; (c) time to understand the family needs; and (d) counseling strategies. A summary, conclusions, and recommendations for future research are included.

About the Author

Dr. James began his adult career in law enforcement as a federal officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Service/Department of Homeland Security in 2000. While working as a federal officer, he completed his graduate studies at Seton Hall University in 2004 and decided to transition in the in-home counseling field in 2005.

From 2005 to present, Dr. James continued to work in the in home field along with working as an intensive case manager, mental health counselor at a homeless shelter, intensive outpatient therapist, and volunteered at both the psychiatric ER and psychiatric inpatient unit as a senior primary therapist. Currently, Dr. James owns his own in home company (James Consulting Services, LLC) providing in home clinical services to families and youths diagnosed with either intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Dr. James earned his doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology in 2013 from Argosy University. In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with the Board of Marriage and Family Examiners in the state of New Jersey, he is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) along with being a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC) with the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE).

Dr. James is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists (NACBT).