This week, we revisit the conversation between Dan and Dr. Jesse Owen about what multicultural psychotherapy really is and how to apply the multicultural orientation framework in psychotherapy and clinical training.

The conversation explores the concept of multicultural orientation (MCO) in psychotherapy/counseling. The MCO framework consists of three pillars: cultural humility, cultural opportunities, and cultural comfort. Cultural humility emphasizes the therapist's willingness to learn from the client's cultural experiences and not assume expertise. Cultural opportunities involve recognizing and exploring cultural aspects that arise in therapy sessions. Cultural comfort refers to the therapist's ability to navigate discomfort when discussing cultural topics. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding clients' values and beliefs, even when they differ from the therapist's own. The MCO framework focuses on the salient identities, values, and beliefs of clients and how they influence the therapeutic process. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging the cultural values and identities of both the therapist and the client. The framework is not intended to be a social justice framework, but rather a process-based model for psychotherapy. It aims to help therapists effectively connect with clients and address their individual needs, regardless of their cultural background. MCO training can also be applied to supervision, with a focus on understanding how the supervisor's and supervisee's identities influence the therapeutic process. Machine learning is being used to develop automated tools that provide real-time feedback and training on MCO skills.


Special Guest: Dr. Jesse Owen

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