COLLEGE PARK, MD (July, 2012) Multicultural counseling takes on new meaning in a book just published by the American Counseling Association (ACA), Multicultural Issues in Counseling: New Approaches to Diversity, edited by Professor Dr. Courtland C. Lee of the Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education.
“Diversity in the 21st century is no longer only about race and ethnicity, but encompasses a much broader scope that includes those with disabilities, military clientele, the socioeconomically disadvantaged clients, older persons, LGBTQ individuals, and others,” said Lee. The focus of the book, according to Lee, is to “provide a broader perspective on diversity as a way to offer direction for multicultural counseling.”
One of the main goals for the book is to “introduce the concept of global literacy as the foundation of multicultural counseling competency,” said Lee. “Counseling theory and practice has been greatly impacted by changing demographics and social dynamics that characterize the early 21st century.”
Lee is one of the most influential and highly regarded experts in multicultural counseling, having published many books and journal articles. He also is a frequent presenter on the topic of cross cultural competency and recently led an ACA webinar entitled “Why Does Culture Matter.”
Lee was the president of the International Association for Counseling from 2006–2012 and was president of ACA for the 1997–1998 fiscal year. In 2008 he was named a Fellow of the ACA. Lee’s research interests include the psychosocial development of African American males, process and outcome in cross–cultural counseling, indigenous helping practices in nonwestern cultures and resiliency and coping process of urban adolescents.
American Counseling Association (www.counseling.org) is the largest nonprofit association for professional counselors in the world that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession.
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