Chapter 1: Preparing to Meet Your Clients Flashcards
Cultural Groups
Nonexclusive groups that have a set of values in common; an individual may be part of several cultural groups at the same time
Culture
Learned patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are shared by a group of people
Cultural Values
Principles or standards of a cultural group
Models
Generalized descriptions used to analyze or explain something
Nutrition Counseling
A supportive process guiding a client toward nutritional well-being
Nutrition Education
Learning experiences aimed to promote voluntary adoption of health-promoting dietary behaviors
Worldview
Perception of the world that is biased by culture and personal experiences
What is generally considered the most important determinant of food choices?
Taste
7 qualities of a counselor that are considered the most influential
Knowledge Self-awareness Ethical Integrity Congruence - unified, no contradictions Honest & Genuine Clear Communication Gender & Cultural Awareness
Other qualities of a counselor considered to be influential
Sense of humor
Flexible - no unrealistic expectations, forgiving to change
Optimistic & Hopeful
Respect and value others
Empathetic
Why is it important to take on the role of “helper” to improve the self-image of the “helpee”?
The superiority of a consultant, coach or doctor, etc. can open feeling of discomfort, incompetence, etc in the “helpee”; therefor to maintain a level field of comfort and mutual understanding - it is best to take on the role of a “helper”; someone who only aims to see the “helpee” do better for themselves, not to build an ego-complex of how great the “professional” is at what they do.
“I must be OK if I am to help others”
What is important about this statement?
A counselor who brings their own problems to the table or focuses on fulfilling their own needs - will not listen openly to what the client is in need of, the counselor will fail to provide the right information, support and empathy.
Why is the worldview of a counselor important in terms of cultural sensitivity?
Understanding dietary differences across cultures is important to make sure you do not recommend food that one cannot take due to, let’s say, religious reasons.
Example:
Restrictions on pork for Muslim people
Restrictions on beef for Hindu people
Restrictions on shellfish for Orthodox Jewish people
2 phases of the helping relationship
Building a relationship:
Development of rapport, an ability to show empathy, and the formation of trust.
The goals here are to learn the problems from the client’s view, explore strengths and promote self-exploration.
Facilitating positive action:
Clients will need to be open and honest about what they are willing & not-willing to do. This is only achieved when the client feels they will not be judged or criticized accordingly.
“Everything will be fine”
Why is that not likely to be a successful approach? What is a more useful approach?
There is no basis for reality with the comment above, it can be “belittling”.
An effective approach uses reassurance to clarify the counselors role, the possible solutions and with clarified explanations of what is to be expected in the relationship.
“I promise to do my best to help you cultivate a future of satisfied food adaptations that both suit your cravings for taste and improve your quality of life. This will take effort on both of our parts, I will support you the whole way - I just ask that you trust me and try your best. Set-backs happen, please do not feel discouraged to talk with me about these, it will help us better design a program for you to be successful.”
