458 The Professional Counselor | Volume 13, Issue 4 Competency and Cultural Responsivity Considerations We have identified methods by which practicing counselors can begin to implement ceremonyassisted treatments. Suggestions for obtaining more information about ceremony-assisted experiences include reaching out to and collaborating with one’s local Indigenous community and seeking out a knowledge expert. It is important to offer a gift to the person who is sharing their knowledge. Gift giving in this way aligns with the spirit of the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics preamble, which asserts the importance of honoring and “embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts” (p. 2). ACA ethical standard A.10.f. Receiving Gifts may also be relevant for giving gifts to those from whom one learns. Making a gift to recognize the importance of honoring cultural norms around gifting is certainly in keeping with the reasons and values behind this standard. Gift giving in this instance could entail any tangible item given with thoughtful consideration from one’s heart to the heart of the person from whom they seek wisdom. Examples include plants from the earth (dried or fresh), an object with a meaningful phrase, something useful (such as towels/blankets), or a handmade item. The gift item itself is not as important as the intention behind it—as an expression of love and respect and the sharing of gratitude for the opportunity to be open and learn from wisdom keepers. The experience of earnestly seeking, listening, and developing deeper understanding creates an opportunity for the growth of cultural humility (Tham & Solomon, 2023). Additionally, practitioners are building cultural responsivity as they adopt customs and traditions with awareness of the cultural origins. Once knowledge of the healing ceremony is learned, practitioners should also offer the earth a gift of natural essence (a stone, small berry, dried herb, or small amount of water), as the counselor now holds this wisdom and has a responsibility to honor the earth and the person who gifted it to them. This connection and reciprocity between the natural and human world are a continual exchange of gratitude. It is essential that practitioners give due credit to the contributors of newly learned practices and traditions (Meade et al., 2022). In service delivery, sincerity is honored while using our own language and understanding. In considering competency, ethical standard C.2.b. New Specialty Areas of Practice cites the need for counselors to take steps to ensure competence in applying new techniques, and always with the lens of “protecting others from possible harm” (p. 8). Additionally, counselor commitment to ongoing learning is emphasized in ethical standard C.2.f. Continuing Education (ACA, 2014). Hence, learning should not be considered as a singular universal practice; rather, practitioners should seek to learn in the moment from the knowledge keeper and engage in ongoing consultation, learning, and interaction with the wisdom holders. Continual practitioner reflection and the eliciting of client feedback—to determine the meaningfulness and impact of such interventions—is also essential to determining counselor effectiveness. These steps align with ethical standard C.2.d. Monitor Effectiveness (ACA, 2014), stating the importance of counselor action in monitoring the effectiveness of the work they do. Conclusion Ceremony-assisted treatments are powerful sources of healing and health for clientele. Ritual is essential for all humans, as a means for healing and for the maintenance of one’s physical, spiritual, and emotional health (Hewson et al., 2014)—albeit in ways that are uniquely shaped by personal culture and experiences (McCormick, 2021). We hope that the interventions included in this article can be used to enhance client mental health and health care needs.
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