Engaging with Clients Cross-Culturally

ABSTRACT Social workers recognize that they must be knowledgeable and competent cross-cultural practitioners to be relevant and effective. While there is an extensive ideological, theoretical, and clinical literature about race and ethnicity, there is little empirical work to provide practitioners with specific and effective principles and/or procedures for use in actual practice. Outcome studies in social work, counseling psychology, and psychotherapy consistently demonstrate that a positive working relationship is associated with positive outcomes across models and that engagement in the initial phase of contact is of central significance. Using existing practice and research knowledge, an approach to cross-cultural engagement is presented. Two key processes in engagement are identified: negotiating compatibility and establishing trust. The role of these processes can be examined through systematic outcome and process research and contribute towards the development of a research based cross-cultural cli...