Multicultural and Contextual Considerations Case Study: Marisol Program Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
NARRATOR: Professional counselors consider all facets of a client’s personal background and history to
provide informed ethical care. As such, individuals belonging to special or minority populations require
additional consideration on the part of the counselor to ensure appropriate care is given. In the case that you’re
about to view, Marisol—the client—presents with special ethnographic needs.
As the client is introduced, consider possible areas in which the client requires a treatment approach that
incorporates culturally sensitive considerations. Think of ways to align specific addiction and mental health
concerns with cultural considerations. How should this client be assessed? What alternative approaches
should the counselor employ to address multicultural barriers?
Marisol is a 25-year-old Latina living in a traditional home on the south side of San Antonio, Texas. Marisol has
lived in the United States for most of her life and has extended family in Mexico and in San Antonio. She is the
middle child of six.
Her family and friends are pressuring her to get married. Her grandmother, mother, and married friends
consistently bring up the subject of marriage. Marisol worries about her ability to be a good wife and mother
and sees her siblings struggle to lead a good life as much as she does.
Marisol is fluent bilingual. However, English is Marisol’s second language. Although she wanted to succeed in
her studies, Marisol struggled as a student and did not finish high school.
She was always nervous in school. She began working to contribute to the family income and could never find
the time to complete a GED. She worries that she will never be able to get a good job because of her lack of
education.
Marisol is being treated for comorbid cocaine abuse and benzodiazepine dependence and is having difficulty
discussing her mental health issues with her Caucasian male psychiatrist. Marisol has been seeing her
psychiatrist, Dr. Dan, for treatment of her addictions. Dr. Dan is a Caucasian master’s level counselor who has
received specialized training in addictions counseling.
During the past two counseling sessions, Marisol appeared reluctant to engage in communicating with her
psychiatrist as evidenced by her limited verbalizations. She responded only to questions that were asked and