"Inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected," said Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, in a press release in 2004.
Twenty years later, embracing and understanding diversity is more critical than ever, especially in the field of counseling psychology.
For emerging licensed counselors in California, the best way to enhance culturally competent care is by choosing psychology graduate programs that fully embrace diverse faculty, students and clinical experiences.
Why is Diversity Important in Psychology Education?
As a field dedicated to understanding the human mind and behavior across all cultures and backgrounds, centering diversity is crucial in psychology education. Licensed counselors will need a more comprehensive understanding of the human experience.
Exposing students to varied perspectives and backgrounds has the effect of:
- Enhancing psychological practice and education
- Promoting cultural competence
- Improving counselors' service delivery to diverse populations
Cultural Competence Training Broadens Perspectives
The truth about psychology education is simple:
Diverse classrooms expose counseling students to multiple worldviews, challenging them to consider different perspectives and expand their understanding of human behavior.
Learning from faculty and peers with varied backgrounds allows students to gain insights into diverse cultural contexts, beliefs and experiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for individual differences.
Cultural Competence & Diversity Enhance Research and Innovation
According to a study by economist Richard Freeman, research teams with less diversity among authors are associated with research publications in lower-impact journals. They also produce fewer citations on average.
One reason this happens, according to psychologists, is cognitive elaboration—the process of sharing, challenging and expanding our thinking. In essence, diverse teams compel each other to think more deeply about their reasoning and interrogate the facts more objectively.
Diversity's Impact on Professional Practice in Psychology
The truth about psychological practice is simple:
Psychology students exposed to a wide range of faculty, peers and clinical experiences before licensing are better equipped to treat patients from a wide range of backgrounds in various ways.
Counselors Can Meet Diverse Psychological Needs
"Therapists without shared heritage must remain aware of cultural differences and develop the humility necessary to bring those up in conversation when appropriate."
– American Psychological Association
While research has shown that a therapist-client cultural match can positively impact therapy outcomes, other factors matter, too. For all therapists, being able to connect competently, comprehensively and cognitively despite their background introduces stronger therapeutic alliances, better engagement in treatment and higher patient retention.
Patients Experience Greater Comprehensive Care and Accessibility
A diverse counseling workforce helps ensure that comprehensive care is available to all individuals.
As an example, there are about 5,000 Hispanic psychologists in the United States. This only represents 5 percent of the country’s psychologists, according to Census data published by the APA. However, 19 percent of the country’s population is Hispanic.
But there’s good news: practitioners with diverse experiences and perspectives can better understand and address the unique needs of their clients.
Finding psychology graduate degree programs as researchers and practicing counselors that…
- Embrace institutional diversity
- Aim to increase access to comprehensive care for patients in their community
- Teach curricula through a social justice lens
...is how counselors become equipped to help as many people as possible.
Explore Psychology Graduate Programs Focused on Diversity and Ethics
The state of California is one of the most diverse states in the country.
For counselors looking to embrace a career in psychology research or counseling psychology, Mount Saint Mary's University (MSMU) offers several graduate programs in psychology that are closely aligned with the institution's mission of serving the needs of traditionally underserved and marginalized populations — right in the heart of LA.
PsyD
The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program trains the next generation of ethical and socially just health service psychologists who strive for cultural humility while integrating the practice and science of psychological services.
It offers two cutting-edge emphases:
- Latinx Mental Health
- Diverse Populations
Both are designed to meet the needs of a multicultural environment with a strong social justice focus.
Counseling Psychology and the ¡Enlaces! Program
The Counseling Psychology programs at MSMU are collaborative and culturally-focused programs designed to train students who wish to make a positive impact working with individuals, families, schools, nonprofit organizations and community agencies.
Specifically, our counseling psychology programs prepare students to serve individuals from underrepresented and underserved communities:
- M.S. in Counseling Psychology (General)
- M.S. in Counseling Psychology - Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
- M.S. in Counseling Psychology -MFT with ¡Enlaces! Certificate
At MSMU, we aim to increase access to comprehensive care for patients in their community. Coursework designated as ¡Enlaces! offers an opportunity for students to apply and practice professional psychological terminology and learn about specific cultural factors involved in counseling Spanish-speaking clients.
¡Enlaces! students also receive a clinical placement working with a Spanish-speaking client.
The Mount's Commitment to Diversity
As the world becomes more interconnected, the ability to understand and appreciate cultural differences is becoming increasingly important in various fields, including psychology.
MSMU is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that prepares students for the diverse workplaces they will encounter in our increasingly globalized world. By exposing students to a range of perspectives and experiences, MSMU aims to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and thrive in diverse settings.
If working in diverse settings excites you and aligns with your values, consider exploring MSMU's psychology programs and learn more about the field of counseling psychology:
Our resource, A Field Guide to Careers with a Psychology Degree, can help you learn more about how can prepare yourself for a career in this dynamic field.
Your Patients Will Need 1:1 Support – What About You?
To map a career path that works best for your needs and goals, book a meeting with the MSMU team to discuss your goals and how the programs can help you achieve them — or request more information to receive updates about graduate psychology programs and opportunities in Los Angeles.