What if counseling practice did not account for the many layers that contribute to an individual’s identity?

Case of William Final Paper Overview

What if counseling practice did not account for the many layers that contribute to an individual’s identity? Can you fully help clients if you ignore their experiences as male or female, homosexual or heterosexual, religious or atheist? What about all the other identities individuals assume? Very few individuals fall into either/or categories when it comes to identity. How effective would counseling be if an individual’s cultural experiences and identities were not taken into consideration?

As a member of society and as a participant in the counseling community, you encounter numerous individuals and their varying perspectives. The purpose of the Final Paper is to allow you to become familiar with navigating the influences of the various multicultural identities that emerge in counseling practice.

Final Project (5- to 7-page APA-formatted paper)

Submit a 5- to 7-page APA formatted paper analyzing the influence of multiple multicultural identities on your work with William Thompson. Your Final Project must include the following elements:

• A description of at least three multicultural identities as described by the characteristics, life circumstances, family relationships, or social influences of William Thompson, integrating information from research, course materials and assignments, and your in-residence component
• An explanation of the social context for William’s multiple layers of identity
• An explanation of the identity factors you, as a psychologist, need to consider when working with William, and how you might respond to those factors
• An explanation of how the complexities and various layers of William’s multiple multicultural identities might affect the primary areas of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
• An explanation of the theoretical approach you would use when assessing William, establishing a clinical diagnosis (if any), and engaging in therapy
• An explanation of additional questions you would ask William to further support your assessment and diagnosis of his presenting concerns
• An assessment of how William’s PTSD diagnosis (including DSM IV-TR diagnosis information) might influence his identities and potential strategies for processing his military background and subsequent experiences related to his career and family, as well as in treatment
• An explanation of the role of spirituality and/or religion as it relates to William’s identities, and what impact this may have on his diagnosis, comprehensive and competent assessment, and treatment (the therapy process)
• An explanation of the multicultural theories that support the therapeutic approach you would use when working with William
• An explanation of the APA ethical codes as they relate to multicultural competency and professional interactions with William.
• An explanation of how any potential biases and/or worldview conflicts might influence your work with William and any plans for future professional development related to multicultural psychological practice

The paper must include a minimum of 10 primary references from the psychological literature that support your theoretical approach in terms of assessment and diagnosis related to William’s multiple multicultural identities and presenting concerns, as well as your therapeutic approach related to treatment for William. Be sure to cite in APA format all references used in the development of this Final Paper, both within the paper and in a bibliography.

Information on scholarly writing may be found in the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.)