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· 964 ratings · 60 reviews
Start your review of Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice
May 16, 2011 Sarah rated it did not like it
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
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.
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Jan 08, 2010 Carly rated it liked it
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 emphasizi
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.
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Jan 14, 2012 John rated it really liked it
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 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.
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Apr 09, 2012 William O. II rated it did not like it
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.
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.
...more 
Oct 23, 2014 Simoné rated it liked it
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. 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. ...more
Super repetitive and very black-and-white. Discusses the problem more than offering strategies for providing culturally competent therapy. Frustrating, but worthy of consideration.
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 ho
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.
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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 na 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. ...more
Jan 19, 2008
Sarah Ridenour rated it
it was amazing · review of another edition
Recommends it for: everyone
Recommended to Sarah by: psychology professor
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. 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. ...more
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. 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. ...more
Don't read this POS. Read later editions. They improved the text considerably. Read my review of the 6th edition for specifics. Don't read this POS. Read later editions. They improved the text considerably. Read my review of the 6th edition for specifics. ...more
(2.9)Used with Liberty University Online's PSYC 351 Multicultural Counseling and Research Issues.
(2.9)Used with Liberty University Online's PSYC 351 Multicultural Counseling and Research Issues.
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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 tacti 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. ...more
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 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. ...more
Dec 09, 2019 Marva rated it really liked it
When I set up my office as a therapist, I plan to have lots and lots of books as references. This will be one that I want on that shelf. There were parts that I believed to be engineered from stereotypes and bias, but I think that's the point. Mental health services are designed about and by white males, for the most part. One of the most important things that professional counselors can do to achieve multicultural competence is to read this book and challenge the ideas set forth. If lanes are g When I set up my office as a therapist, I plan to have lots and lots of books as references. This will be one that I want on that shelf. There were parts that I believed to be engineered from stereotypes and bias, but I think that's the point. Mental health services are designed about and by white males, for the most part. One of the most important things that professional counselors can do to achieve multicultural competence is to read this book and challenge the ideas set forth. If lanes are going to be created to be inclusive, then we have to understand what is being taught and allow that to lead us to what NEEDS to be taught. ...more
May 27, 2020 Tania rated it really liked it
Required text for Diversity, Difference, and Inclusion course.
Course Description: This course examines the interaction between sociocultural variables and mental health. Students will learn frameworks for understanding and working with persons from diverse backgrounds. They will also examine closely how their own background and biases can impact their capacity to provide respectful, competent, and effective counseling services. Students will learn about taking a social justice approach to couns Required text for Diversity, Difference, and Inclusion course.
Course Description: This course examines the interaction between sociocultural variables and mental health. Students will learn frameworks for understanding and working with persons from diverse backgrounds. They will also examine closely how their own background and biases can impact their capacity to provide respectful, competent, and effective counseling services. Students will learn about taking a social justice approach to counseling as a means of countering processes of oppression and discrimination. Methods of instruction include assigned readings, lecture, class discussion, experiential activities, videos, and papers. ...more
Oct 29, 2019 Scott Paxman rated it did not like it
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...
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. 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. ...more
Dec 14, 2019 Susan Marie rated it it was amazing
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 wa 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. ...more
May 06, 2018 Alma rated it really liked it
I thought this was great, especially the introduction of "this will probably incite strong reactions like xyz and this is why those are defensive responses we need to get past" Obviously very divisive in my cohort but incredibly important and a well written textbook. I thought this was great, especially the introduction of "this will probably incite strong reactions like xyz and this is why those are defensive responses we need to get past" Obviously very divisive in my cohort but incredibly important and a well written textbook. ...more
Dec 13, 2019 Susa Schwalbe rated it really liked it
Very comprehensive textbook, could use some more "practice" part and examples of therapeutic progress not only implications or presented problems. Also, I wish counseling immigrants wouldn't be reduced only to refugees and crisis counseling issues. Overall great study book and more. Very comprehensive textbook, could use some more "practice" part and examples of therapeutic progress not only implications or presented problems. Also, I wish counseling immigrants wouldn't be reduced only to refugees and crisis counseling issues. Overall great study book and more. ...more
Feb 01, 2018 Jeremy rated it did not like it
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.
Thought provoking look at counseling people from all walks of life
May 06, 2019 Teri rated it really liked it
Challenging and helpful and interesting to read. I learned a lot and plan to keep this one within easy reach.
I'm blown away that this book and the Takaki books even exist. Why aren't all high schoolers reading "A Different Mirror" as one of their history books?
Why aren't ALL those studying to be in the helping professions (including teachers, doctors, nurses, as well as social workers, therapists, pastors, psychologists) reading Sue and Sue?
I'm blown away that this book and the Takaki books even exist. Why aren't all high schoolers reading "A Different Mirror" as one of their history books?
Why aren't ALL those studying to be in the helping professions (including teachers, doctors, nurses, as well as social workers, therapists, pastors, psychologists) reading Sue and Sue?
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Nov 15, 2013 Carter rated it liked it
This book provides a lot of solid, detailed, and useful information about different ethnic identities and identity development. Sue and Sue also cover other minority or marginalized populations including women, individuals who belong to lower socioeconomic status, and individuals with disabilities. I appreciated the wealth of knowledge and found many of the case studies enlightening. The text also paired well with the content of my coursework. However, the way in which the text refers to "whites This book provides a lot of solid, detailed, and useful information about different ethnic identities and identity development. Sue and Sue also cover other minority or marginalized populations including women, individuals who belong to lower socioeconomic status, and individuals with disabilities. I appreciated the wealth of knowledge and found many of the case studies enlightening. The text also paired well with the content of my coursework. However, the way in which the text refers to "whites" has a derogatory and negative tone. In a class discussion, many individuals from my cohort shared this feeling. The text presents white privilege (which is a topic that I do agree needs to be covered within a multicultural curriculum) and white identity development in a way that makes the authors seem like they have a personal vendetta against Caucasian individuals. Furthermore, the section on white identity development basically states every white person is inherently racist and can only grow and develop in a positive direction by admitting to and accepting they are racist. Perhaps I missed the point or the content was not delivered properly but myself and several others from my cohort found this section of the text to be offensive and inaccurate. We had a class discussion about how every individual holds certain prejudices and stereotypical beliefs about others because it is an essential human characteristic. We would not have survived as a species had we not developed a means to identify and categorize others. In this way, the word "prejudice" is not always defined in a negative context. From this discussion, we were able to gain much more insight than the text was able to provide.
Luckily we had a fantastic instructor who was able to appropriately explain and apply the content of the textbook. And the majority of the content was viable and useful. So overall this book did serve its purpose and I would recommend it but the section on white identity development left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
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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,
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.
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Apr 01, 2014 Sarah rated it really liked it
For what it is, I think it was good, or at least better than the other books I've read on the subject. What it does best is introduce a lot of ideas on prejudice and multiculturalism. It might make you angry or uncomfortable, but at least your thinking about the topic. Where it struggles is exactly where you think it would: in order to generalize about cultural differences, you have to generalize. It is up to the reader to know that individuals within cultures don't necessarily adhere to the nor For what it is, I think it was good, or at least better than the other books I've read on the subject. What it does best is introduce a lot of ideas on prejudice and multiculturalism. It might make you angry or uncomfortable, but at least your thinking about the topic. Where it struggles is exactly where you think it would: in order to generalize about cultural differences, you have to generalize. It is up to the reader to know that individuals within cultures don't necessarily adhere to the norm. However, to act like we're all individuals without culturally inherited traits and biases would be equally wrong and in America, where cultural differences are glossed over because of fear of appearing prejudiced and dominant cultural values are prioritized without conscious awareness, books like this are important. ...more
I found myself teaching a cultural competence class for new therapists in the field of providing therapy to diverse clients. I found the book organized well and easy to follow. It was a good book for presenting some ideas and thoughts for new graduate level students to consider when working with people different from themselves. I found this book more a a launch point for discussion that was not racially or politically charged, and the core stuff was brought in outside of the book. As a result t I found myself teaching a cultural competence class for new therapists in the field of providing therapy to diverse clients. I found the book organized well and easy to follow. It was a good book for presenting some ideas and thoughts for new graduate level students to consider when working with people different from themselves. I found this book more a a launch point for discussion that was not racially or politically charged, and the core stuff was brought in outside of the book. As a result this book allowed for a "safe start" which eventually led to real difficult discussion later in class. Recommend for an introduction of a potentially highly charged discussion. ...more
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.
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Counseling the Culturally Diverse 7th Edition Chapter 4
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