Short-Term Transcultural Counseling: Personal Experiences, Cautions, and Considerations

The number of mental health professionals volunteering their skills in transcultural counseling efforts is increasing. This article is tailored for U.S. counselors aspiring to initiate work overseas, particularly with nationals in non-Western cultures. Cautions and considerations, heavily informed by personal experience, are discussed and integrated with research. Fundamental aspects of preparation, personal assessment, and cultural factors, along with general comments about the process, are covered. More specifically, cultural research, humility, appropriateness, culturally adapted treatment, and cultural sensitivity are addressed, including working with interpreters. Ethical adaptations in regard to informed consent, records, and confidentiality are mentioned. A brief overview of implementation is discussed, including aspects of evaluation. This article aims to inspire counselors to embark on their first endeavor, fostering potential partnerships and collaborations that contribute to the global health movement and ultimately decrease the burden of mental illness worldwide.