Counseling American Indians

1. Realize great variability between tribes

a. Familiarize yourself with individual tribe of interest
b. Areas of interest include
i. Historical traumas
- Be sensitive
ii. Rituals and ceremonies
- Try to be both understanding and accepting
iii. Religion, beliefs, and customs of client family

- Incorporate into counseling techniques

2. Be cognizant of family construct

a. Family refers to relationship, not blood-relativity
i. Their version of family typically much larger than

typical biological family we identify with

b. Strength comes from family, and tribe, face issues as a

group
i. Family counseling likely more effective than

individual

- Native Americans rather tackle an issue as a

group

c. Role of communal sharing

i. An Indian client may be eating what is provided by

others in community
ii. An Indian client may feel more welcome if coffee

and food provided in office

3. Realize differences in communication
a. Native Americans often utilize extended silence
i. Sign of respect
ii. Can mean client is intently listening, debating,

actively problem solving

 b. May be disrespectful for one relative to mention name of

an other
i. Specific relative may be described merely as he or

she
c. Be mindful of nonverbal communication
i. To an Indian client, every movement communicates

something, no matter how subtle

- Be mindful of this and use it to your advantage

4. Encourage rather than diminish traditional practices

a. Welcome use of prayer meetings, herbal remedies, and

healing rituals, as long as complementary to western

medical treatment
b. No harm in supporting idea the treating bad spirits will

help assist actual medical treatment

c. Be familiar with tradition eating patterns

- Pancakes/bread, wild berries, herbal teas, wild rice

soups, walleye fish, and Sioux Indian pudding

Your Heritage

Date 4/15/17
Your Age 23 Your sex: M x F
With what ethnic background do you identify, if any? irish
Do you speak another language in your family? no

Fathers ethnic background? irish

His religious background catholic
Who, came to this country: M GF GGF? Earlier
Arrival?
Mothers ethnic background? irish
Her religious background catholic
Who came to this country? M GM GGM? Earlier Arrival?
Was anyone else central in your upbringing? No x Yes
If so, what was their ethnic and religious background?

Are you an immigrant? No x Yes

If so, from where?

Please rate the following items according to the extent they were
characteristic of your family while you were growing:

1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic

1. Children were expected to take care 1 2 3 4 5

of themselves at an early age.

2. Being strong and psychologically 1 2 3 4 5

tough
was highly valued.

3. Getting along with people was highly 1 2 3 4 5

valued.
 1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic
4. Treating people right was highly 1 2 3 4 5
valued.

5. Self control was highly valued. 1 2 3 4 5

6. Parents had a great deal of anxiety 1 2 3 4 5

about their children achieving in
school.

7. Boys were indulged and girls were 1 2 3 4 5

made to toe the line.

8. Sharing was an important value. 1 2 3 4 5

9. It was very important not to be seen 1 2 3 4 5

as uppity or getting above
yourself.

10. No matter how busy you become, 1 2 3 4 5

you are still expected to give time,
money, and other assistance to any
family member who needs it.

11. Babies were indulged, constantly 1 2 3 4 5

picked up, cuddled, allowed to sleep
with parents, etc.

12. Men and women are expected to be 1 2 3 4 5

strong and make it alone.

13. Men and women are expected by be 1 2 3 4 5

nurturing and supportive to each
other.

14. Men and women have separate and 1 2 3 4 5

defined roles: men to protect
women, women to nurture.

15. Women are expected to stay in 1 2 3 4 5

their places.
 1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic

16. Women are expected to have to 1 2 3 4 5

take care of things in the final
analysis.

17. Having the strength to survive 1 2 3 4 5

was highly valued.

18. Parents took a stance of non- 1 2 3 4 5

pressured independence toward
children.

19. Parents were sometimes not pushy 1 2 3 4 5

enough about childrens
achievements.

20. Parents wanted nothing more than 1 2 3 4 5

for their children to be successful.

21. You really got attention when you 1 2 3 4 5

were sick.

22. Independent exploration of the 1 2 3 4 5

outside world was always
encouraged.

23. Parents always warned us about the 1 2 3 4 5

dangers of the outside world.

24. Church was seen as a place you 1 2 3 4 5

could express your sadness.

25. Church rules were considered all 1 2 3 4 5

important.

26. Church was viewed as a social 1 2 3 4 5

occasion.

27. Suffering was to be done alone. 1 2 3 4 5

 1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic

28. Suffering was Gods punishment for 1 2 3 4 5

our sins.

29. Suffering was bad luck. 1 2 3 4 5

30. Suffering was to be borne in silence. 1 2 3 4 5

31. Suffering was considered the 1 2 3 4 5

human condition.

32. Suffering would be borne more 1 2 3 4 5

easily when expressed and shared.

33. Success was valued more highly 1 2 3 4 5

than any other value

34. Talking about ones problems was 1 2 3 4 5

considered the best way to cure
them.

35. Children were encouraged to 1 2 3 4 5

discuss family problems and give
their opinions of family issues.

36. Grown children were expected to 1 2 3 4 5

live near parents.

37. You must get at least a college 1 2 3 4 5

education.

38. Even daughters were expected to 1 2 3 4 5

get a graduate education.

39. Nothing is more important than the 1 2 3 4 5

family.

40. Eating is considered a necessary 1 2 3 4 5

activity for good health.
 1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic

41. Eating is regarded as wonderful 1 2 3 4 5

source of enjoyment.

42. Eating is a symbol of family 1 2 3 4 5

connectedness.

43. Eating is a symbol of nurturing. 1 2 3 4 5

44. Sex is something you shouldnt talk 1 2 3 4 5

about.

45. Sex is one of lifes most important 1 2 3 4 5

pleasures.

46. Bodily functions should not be 1 2 3 4 5

mentioned if you can help it.

47. Children werent to be praised too 1 2 3 4 5

much or they would get a swelled
head.

48. Men werent expected to handle 1 2 3 4 5

the outside world.

49. Women were seen as strong. 1 2 3 4 5

50. Women were seen as emotionally 1 2 3 4 5

vulnerable.

51. Complaining about problems was 1 2 3 4 5

seen as bad form.

52. Family members should be 1 2 3 4 5

responsible for elderly parents and
not put them in nursing homes.

53. Older family members were 1 2 3 4 5

respected for their wisdom.
 1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic

54. Conflicts were covered over, 1 2 3 4 5

especially in public.

55. We were encouraged to say what 1 2 3 4 5

we thought.

56. Children were to be seen and not 1 2 3 4 5

heard.

57. The belief was Spare the rod and 1 2 3 4 5

spoil the child.

58. Hospitality toward outsiders was an 1 2 3 4 5

important value.

59. Hardly anything was more frowned 1 2 3 4 5

on than a lazy person.

60. The males were always dominant. 1 2 3 4 5

61. It was important to give to charity. 1 2 3 4 5

62. Being a hard worker was highly 1 2 3 4 5

valued.

63. Being a religious person was highly 1 2 3 4 5

valued.

64. We believed that honesty was the 1 2 3 4 5

best policy.

65. Drinking was an important part of 1 2 3 4 5

social occasions.

66. People were seen as basically 1 2 3 4 5

responsible for what happened to
them.

67. We always liked to have a good 1 2 3 4 5

time.
 1. Not 5. Very
Charac- Charac-
teristic teristic

68. Bad behavior was seen as a 1 2 3 4 5

reflection on the whole family.

69. Bad behavior was seen as a 1 2 3 4 5

reflection on the whole group.

70. Losing face was probably the 1 2 3 4 5

worst thing that could happen to
you.

71. Children were taught to stand up for 1 2 3 4 5

what we believed in.

72. You werent supposed to marry 1 2 3 4 5

outside of the group.

73. You werent supposed to talk about 1 2 3 4 5

family business outside the home.

74. Women had to put up with what 1 2 3 4 5

men did to them.

75. Guilt was one of the major ways of 1 2 3 4 5

shaping childrens behavior.

76. Personal connections were the 1 2 3 4 5

way to get things done.

77. The best thing is never to work for 1 2 3 4 5

anyone else so you can be
independent.

78. You should be careful of what you 1 2 3 4 5

say, a harsh would can never be
taken back.

79. When under stress, males in your family tend to: (check all that
apply)

complain somatize x suffer in silence

 blame others x work harder ruminate
turn to drink take drugs blame
themselves
use denial become fatalistic turn to religion
become aggressive become helpless turn to
family

80. When under stress, females in your family tend to: (check all that
apply)

x complain somatize suffer in silence

blame others work harder ruminate
turn to drink take drugs blame
themselves
use denial become fatalistic turn to religion
become aggressive become helpless x turn to
family
81. Please rate the degree to which females in your family value the
following:
(1 = not valued; 5 = highly valued)

Children 1 2 3 4 5
Education 1 2 3 4 5
Extended family 1 2 3 4 5
Food 1 2 3 4 5
Having a good time 1 2 3 4 5
Propriety 1 2 3 4 5
Religion 1 2 3 4 5
Saving ones money 1 2 3 4 5
Sexual expression 1 2 3 4 5
Stoicism 1 2 3 4 5
Wisdom of the aged 1 2 3 4 5
Work 1 2 3 4 5

82. Please rate the degree to which males in your family value the
following:
(1 = not valued; 5 = highly valued)

Children 1 2 3 4 5
 Education 1 2 3 4 5
Extended family 1 2 3 4 5
Food 1 2 3 4 5
Having a good time 1 2 3 4 5
Propriety 1 2 3 4 5
Religion 1 2 3 4 5
Saving ones money 1 2 3 4 5
Sexual expression 1 2 3 4 5
Stoicism 1 2 3 4 5
Wisdom of the aged 1 2 3 4 5
Work 1 2 3 4 5

83. Please list 5 other characteristics of your family you were growing
up with:
- important to give back to community
- help out elders whenever possible
- treat neighbors like family
- problems are never as big as they seem
- dont envy what others have

The goal of this exercise is to clarify your own perceptions of your

ethnic background and how you relate them to your sense of personal
identity.

1. Do you know why your ancestors came to this country? Speculate on the
conditions they left behind and their possible motives for leaving these
conditions and/or their feelings about leaving.

Yes, they left in search of a better life as a result of the Irish potato
famine. They
were probably reluctant to leave but it was necessary.

2. When your ancestors arrived here, their ethnic background

undoubtedly influenced how they were perceived and treated by
others. Describe both a disadvantage and an advantage your
ancestors may have experienced because of their ethnicity.
Examples might include matters of religion, racial characteristics,
economic background, language, family patterns, or political
involvement.
Being Catholic they were surrounded by many fellow Catholics when
they arrived in New England. It was likely ideal to be surrounded
by others that follow the same religion. They likely found a sense
of community in the increasing population of Irish Catholics
entering the country at the time. On the other hand there was a
lot of stigma towards Irish socially and economically. They were
often viewed as incompetent drunks, which was likely a tough
stigma to overcome.

3. Look at any of the ethnic advantages you have listed. These are
often reflected in family strengths, the desirable things people do
or experience because they are members of a particular family
and a particular ethnic group. Can you name any specific
privileges, advantages, or family strengths that you or your
family members have enjoyed because of your familys ethnic
background or identity? List these.

I would say that we mostly benefit from the sense of community we

feel surrounded by fellow a large portion of Irish Catholics.

4. In one or two sentences, name the ethnic background you most

identify with and describe on important personal benefit that you
enjoy as a consequence of the ethnicity.

I most identify with the Irish. I feel that I benefit most from the sense of
belonging I get from being surrounded by many people with my same
ethnic background. Because of this, I feel a lot of pride for my ethnicity.

Counseling American Indians

5. Realize great variability between tribes

c. Familiarize yourself with individual tribe of interest
d. Areas of interest include
i. Historical traumas
- Be sensitive
ii. Rituals and ceremonies
- Try to be both understanding and accepting
 iii. Religion, beliefs, and customs of client family

- Incorporate into counseling techniques

6. Be cognizant of family construct

a. Family refers to relationship, not blood-relativity
i. Their version of family typically much larger than

typical biological family we identify with

b. Strength comes from family, and tribe, face issues as a

group
i. Family counseling likely more effective than

individual

- Native Americans rather tackle an issue as a

group

c. Role of communal sharing

i. An Indian client may be eating what is provided by

others in community
ii. An Indian client may feel more welcome if coffee

and food provided in office

7. Realize differences in communication
a. Native Americans often utilize extended silence
i. Sign of respect
ii. Can mean client is intently listening, debating,

actively problem solving

b. May be disrespectful for one relative to mention name of

an other
i. Specific relative may be described merely as he or

she
c. Be mindful of nonverbal communication
i. To an Indian client, every movement communicates

something, no matter how subtle

- Be mindful of this and use it to your advantage

8. Encourage rather than diminish traditional practices
a. Welcome use of prayer meetings, herbal remedies, and

healing rituals, as long as complementary to western

medical treatment
b. No harm in supporting idea the treating bad spirits will

help assist actual medical treatment

c. Be familiar with tradition eating patterns

- Pancakes/bread, wild berries, herbal teas, wild rice

soups, walleye fish, and Sioux Indian pudding