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TO THINK ABOUT
As Christian counsellors moving across cultures, we face challenges not unlike those faced by pioneering missionaries - a ministry to others based on biblical principles, infused with a particular kind of education, and colored by our own cultural traditions.
What we assume, say and do will not translate automatically to other settings. As we listen to presentations from those with experience in many parts of the world, it may help to synthesize our learning to consider some sensitive areas that rarely get attention in training.
For example
- how does the “one-to-one, office consulting” model need to be adapted for collectivist cultures?
- how does the “status” of the counsellor play out in cultures of extreme poverty?
- how does one share the loving grace of God with those accustomed to living with karma?
-should we bring positive psychology and resilience concepts to those who value submission and acceptance of fate?
- is our counselling biblically-based or Western (or both) when we encounter social and moral practices that differ from our own? (for example, attitudes to money, marriage, sexuality, privacy, human rights, abuse)?
- how do we (can we) work in countries like China and the Middle East where there are significant constraints?
- how do use our knowledge of diagnostics for issues like anxiety and depression where local patterns differ from our own?
Do we bring Grace and Truth?
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