TPC-Journal-V2-Issue2

The Professional Counselor \Volume 2, Issue 2 121 reveal potential stigmas, misunderstandings, or reservations that individuals in any culture may have about counseling. It would be important to highlight any discrepancies between the counseling philosophy and the culture that may prevent individuals from utilizing the services. Conclusion As the process of globalization has impacted the world economically, politically, culturally, and socially, it is important to maintain the global perspective when examining the counseling field as well. Ng and Noonan (2012) suggested several areas to which counselors should attend when considering the internationalization of counseling. They noted that international collaborations across fields, agencies, and countries regarding training and services should be equal partnerships. Given this guideline, when countries seek consultation from outside counselors, these foreign counselors should learn what systems are currently in place in that country as far as national counseling organizations or other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are currently providing services for the country’s citizens. These organizations can provide insight into the mental health issues of most concern in their country as well as be potential places for counseling service delivery. Another example of this type of collaboration would be international internships or training opportunities. As a specific example, one of the authors participated in an institute for which 12 counselors were invited to Bhutan through NBCC-I in order to collaborate with schools, a psychiatric hospital, a women’s center, university counseling centers, and substance abuse service providers. During this collaboration, the U.S. counselors shared information on mental health issues such as substance abuse and domestic violence, counseling skills, and counseling programs, yet the decisions on how specifically to implement programs in their culture remains in the hands of the Bhutanese counseling leaders. The counselors also spent time learning the government’s mental health provider system and other NGO’s that were interested in collaborating on how to provide counseling services. Starting Fall 2012, counselors from the U.S. will return for a semester at a time to continue this partnership. Ng and Noonan (2012) also recommended the theoretical foundation of counseling should have a global framework that accounts for culture and is broadened to avoid implementing “culture-specific mental health intervention models” (p. 11). As scholars have become more mindful of our Western-based practices and how they have a potential global impact, the authors believe counselors have the responsibility to not only be flexible enough to challenge personal assumptions, but maintain a willingness to learn and adapt from their international neighbors. As counselors also become more aware of the structural impact of marginalized populations and call out for a social justice and advocacy perspective, they have the obligation to widen their lens to include not only the systems of our community, but the connected world as a whole. References Adebimpe, V. R. (1981). Overview: White norms and psychiatric diagnosis of Black patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 279–285. Acker, J. (2004). Gender, capitalism, and globalization. Critical Sociology , 30 , 17–42. Anderson, C. M., Robins, C. S., Greeno, C. G., Cahalane, H., Copeland, V. C., & Andrews, R. M. (2006). Why lower income mothers do not engage with the formal mental health care system: Perceived barriers to care. Qualitative Health Research, 16 , 926–943. doi: 10.1177/1049732306289224 Arredondo, P., & Perez, P. (2003). Expanding multicultural competence through social justice leadership. The Counseling Psychologist, 31, 282–289. doi:10.1177/0011000003031003003 Atkinson, D. R. (2004). Counseling American minorities  (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Ayyash-Abdo, H., Alamuddin, R., & Mukallid, S. (2010). School counseling in Lebanon: Past, present, and future. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88 , 13–17. Chen, P. (2009). A counseling model for self-relation coordination for Chinese clients with interpersonal conflicts. Counseling Psychologist, 37 , 987–1009. Chung, R. C. (2005). Women, human rights, and counseling: Crossing international boundaries. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83 , 262–268. Clawson, T. W. (2011). Welcome to NBCC International . Retrieved from http://www.nbccinternational.org/home/welcome Crethar, H. C., Torres-Rivera, E., & Nash, S. (2008). In search of common threads: Linking multicultural, feminist, and social justice counseling programs. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86, 269–278.