Diversity, Culture And Respect – Working With Vulnerable Groups

This course encourages students to look critically at the diversity of people challenged and impacted by addiction and that addiction can impact people of all ages, genders, races, social classes, educational backgrounds, and family structures. It is essential for counsellors in clinical practice to attain cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence within the groups of clients they will work with, including having an awareness of possible health traditions, beliefs, practices, values and attitudes. Some people may be particularly vulnerable to developing maladaptive, compulsive patterns of substance or behavioural abuse compared to the general population. A combination of risk factors, including mental health, social and environmental stressors, and personality traits can play pivotal roles in the development of and recovery from addiction. Risk factors for addiction exist on an individual level as well as an interpersonal relationship, community, and societal level and may include a history of trauma such as intergenerational trauma, child abuse, poverty, domestic violence as well as violence at the community level, racism, sexism, social stigma, mental health disorders as examples.