The cultural dynamics of counselling international students

This book explores the relationships between
individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards
counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and
American university students. East Asian
international students under-utilise Western
universities counselling services. The Western
concept of counselling reflects Western cultural
values, in particular individualism. Thus the
reluctance of international students from more
collectivistic cultures to seek counselling services
may in part be due to a clash of cultural values.
This book is based on a study that found a general
lack of knowledge about university counselling
services even among those participants who were
familiar with counselling as a concept. Participants
expressed reservations about seeking counselling due
to concerns of being seen by friends. This was
particularly true for the Chinese. This book should
appeal to university policy-makers and professional
counsellors who are responsible for meeting the
needs of the international students. It also has
implications for counsellor education programs in
recognising the link between cultural variables and
client expectations.

Autorentext

Paul Snider, PhD: Doctorate in Psychology from Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. Research focuses on cross-cultural counselling. Paul has extensive teaching and counselling experience in the US, Egypt, and Australia. He is a Lecturer in Behavioural Health Sciences at Curtin University of Technology's School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Klappentext

This book explores the relationships between individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American university students. East Asian international students under-utilise Western universities' counselling services. The Western concept of counselling reflects Western cultural values, in particular individualism. Thus the reluctance of international students from more collectivistic cultures to seek counselling services may in part be due to a clash of cultural values. This book is based on a study that found a general lack of knowledge about university counselling services even among those participants who were familiar with counselling as a concept. Participants expressed reservations about seeking counselling due to concerns of being seen by friends. This was particularly true for the Chinese. This book should appeal to university policy-makers and professional counsellors who are responsible for meeting the needs of the international students. It also has implications for counsellor education programs in recognising the link between cultural variables and client expectations.