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The present study investigated the relationship between cultural competence, multicultural self-efficacy, and ethnic identity among professional counselors (n = 172). Researchers found a moderate positive correlation between cultural competence and multicultural ethnic identity, r = .41, p < .01, and between ethnic identity and multicultural self-efficacy, r = .31, p < .01. Additionally, there was a large positive correlation between cultural competency and multicultural self-efficacy, r = .61, p < .01. Finally, results from a hierarchical multiple regression indicated that ethnic identity and multicultural self-efficacy accounted for 42.4% of the variance in multicultural counseling competence after controlling for social desirability, F(3, 159) = 38.99, p < .001. Discussion of the results, implications for the counseling profession, and areas for future research are explored.
The United States is increasing in diversity; thus, professional counselors need to be culturally knowledgeable and sensitive to diverse clients. As of 2016, approximately 323 million individuals resided in the United States, with White individuals representing 76.9% of the total population, followed by Hispanic/ Latino (17.6%), African American (13.3%), Asian (5.6%), biracial (2.6%), and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.2%) individuals (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). By the year 2060, it is projected that the Hispanic/Latino population will make up 28.6% of the total population, followed by African American (17.9%), Asian (11.7%), biracial (6.2%), and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.4%) individuals (Colby & Ortman, 2014). Given these statistics, it is inevitable that differences in worldview, values, and beliefs will be present between counselors and clients. Therefore, it is crucial for professional counselors to be nonjudgmental and broach cultural issues relevant to the client (e.g., race, gender, sexuality) with empathy and credibility, which contributes to a positive therapeutic relationship (Day-Vines et al., 2007; Ibrahim & Heuer, 2016). It is imperative for counselors to be self-aware, possess cultural knowledge, utilize culturally appropriate skills with clients, and avoid imparting their own beliefs in the therapeutic relationship (American Counseling Association [ACA] Code of Ethics, 2014; Ratts et al., 2015).
Within the field of counseling and counselor education, there is extensive research on multicultural counseling competence (MCC) in counselor trainees (e.g., Hill, Vereen, McNeal, & Stotesbury, 2013; Hipolito-Delgado, Cook, Avrus, & Bonham, 2011; Holcomb-McCoy & Myers, 1999; Prosek & Michel, 2016). For instance, research has focused on increasing the cultural...