International  Counselling

 Brian Herron, M.Ed.

 Counselling Centre
Camosun College

Role of the International Student Counsellor:

·       Providing help and support for students is a privilege for me as an International Student Counsellor.

 ·       Support international students with:

 -   Personal issues

-   Cultural issues

 -   Career issues

 -   Educational issues

International Students at Camosun College (in 2004):

 ·        600 international students

   ·        http://www.camosun.bc.ca/international/

 ·        What international students bring to Camosun College and Victoria?

 ·        Camosun International Field Schools – Cuba & Kenya, Tongo, Vietnam

Many international students are too nervous to approach, talk, or interact with Canadian Students (although they really want to). Identify reasons why many international students do not approach Canadian students to talk or interact (Small group discussion item).

Counselling strategies for helping students experiencing Culture Shock or Cultural Dislocation:

·        Normalize the experience – transitions are usually difficult.

·        Help the person maintain personal integrity and self-esteem.

·        Encourage the person to allow himself or herself as much time as
     necessary to deal with culture shock and symptoms.

·        Establish trust with the client.

          ·        Be aware of where the student/client is on the
                     Racial Cultural Identity     Model (Sue &Sue):

-   Conformity – blinded by conditioning.

-   Dissonance – chaos and discomfort

                                 -   Resistant – anger and reaction

                                 -   Introspection – thoughtful – slow down

                                 -   Integrating Awareness – inner sense of security

Using the Validationgram in counselling individuals with cross-cultural issues (Ishiyama, 1995).

       (a) Review the use of the validationgram in counselling
                (Ishiyama, 1995).

(b) Review the four domains of the validationgram.

 (c) Students complete the four domains of the validationgram
            and discuss the value of the validationgram in helping individuals
            with cross-cultural transition issues.

Culture Shock and Cultural Dislocation

•        Loneliness

·       Isolation

 ·       Disorientation

 ·       Helplessness

 ·       Anger

 ·       Feelings of low self-worth and acceptance

 ·       Identity confusion

 ·       Losing motivation

 ·       Excessive drinking, smoking, eating, working …

 ·       Extremely high anxiety

·       Lack of validation

 ·       Others       

 Pedersen, 1997

Basic Counselling Interventions for
 Culture Shock and Cultural Dislocation

·       Normalize the experience – transitions are usually difficult.

·       Help the person maintain personal integrity and self-esteem.

 ·       Encourage the person to allow himself or herself as much time as necessary to deal with culture shock and symptoms.

 ·       Establish trust with the client.

 ·      Be aware of where the student/client is on the Racial Cultural Identity Model (Sue &Sue):

 -   Conformity – blinded by conditioning

-   Dissonance – chaos and discomfort

 -   Resistant – anger and reaction

 -   Introspection – thoughtful – slow down

 - Integrating Awareness – inner sense of security