Towards an integrative model of multicultural responsiveness

ABSTRACT There is an increasing need for practitioners to be responsive to multicultural identities in clinical practice. Although the multicultural competency framework has been around for a number of decades, its overall utility and generalisability has not being consistently established. The book chapter approach to learning about multicultural engagement is rather limited, not least because it is impossible to learn about the vast identities of the different cultures that the average practitioner will work with in routine practice. In response to this gap in the literature, the current paper proposes an integrative model of multicultural responsiveness that brings together trans-theoretical practices from the extant literature. In doing so, this paper provides a model of multicultural practice that seeks to learn about the client’s complex multicultural identity during the assessment phase, during therapy, and by monitoring the process and outcome of care. A case vignette is provided demonstrating the application and utility of this model.