200 word minimum***

• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Results of Cultural Proficiency

            Gallardo et al. (2009), defines cultural responsiveness as an individual having a set of values and principles that allows them to value diversity, conduct regular self-assessment related to cultural competence, and acclimate to cultural contexts related to the groups and populations the helping professional serves. The authors also reinforce the importance of maintaining nonmaleficence when approaching a client from both a clinical responsiveness and cultural responsiveness perspective, regarding using a “both/and” approach with culturally diverse clients (Gallardo et al., 2009). Based on the results of my cultural proficiency assessment, it appears that I have very strong understandings of cultural blindness, as well as cultural competence and proficiency. The cultural pre-contemplation stage is the area of the cultural proficiency matrix that I need to become more familiarized with, as there were a few questions that I selected cultural competence for when it should have been cultural pre-contemplation. After further review, I developed a better understanding of how cultural precontemplation deals primarily with an individual’s increased awareness of cultural differences and contemplation of ideas of how to continue evolving their cultural responsiveness, as opposed to action that is taken by the helping professional at the organizational level to better support their culturally diverse clients. (Walden University, 2023). There were a few scenarios/questions where I also chose cultural destructiveness when the correct answer should have been cultural incapacity. To better differentiate between the two, I realized that while cultural destructiveness focuses on actively working to eliminate certain cultures, cultural incapacity entails discrediting non-majority cultural beliefs and practices, stereotyping, and disproportionate resource allocation (Walden University, 2023).

Reaction to Results and Continued Development of Cultural Competence

            After completing the self-assessment, I understand how pivotal it is to continue evolving my own cultural responsiveness, including my willingness to involve myself in educational and organizational opportunities to expand upon my own comprehension of what it means to be culturally competent. The assessment also encouraged me to identify ways in which I can become an advocate and ally for the culturally diverse populations in my community, which Dr. Haley-Banez stated was crucial in becoming a more culturally responsive counselor (Walden University, 2010). I look forward to taking advantage of the educational opportunities that are offered in my area and through my future place of employment to further my personal understanding of cultural competence and continue to develop my effectiveness as a helping professional while working with diverse populations. These opportunities will allow me to be more mindful and aware of the disparities that are being faced by certain groups, and ways in which I can act as a resourceful support system for them based on the barriers they have previously been impacted by. I am hopeful that these experiences will also help me become more comfortable in productively combatting cultural destructiveness, incapacity, and blindness that I witness in my community.