It is my honor to introduce Brenda Johnson, who has served as my supervisor for over a year in my pursuit of the Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT) designation for the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. She holds credentials as a Registered Counselling Therapist and Supervisor with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and is a Canadian Certified Counsellor recognized by the Canadian Counselling Psychotherapy Association. Additionally, Brenda is an Accredited Music Therapist affiliated with both the Canadian Association of Music Therapy and the Atlantic Association for Music Therapy.
For a comprehensive understanding of her services and extensive expertise, I encourage you to explore her private practice’s website, Sound Connections Therapy Services, located in Delhaven, NS.
“Keep your language. Love its sounds, its modulation, its rhythm. But try to march together with men of different languages, remote from your own, who wish like you for a more just and human world.”
― Helder Camara, *Spiral Of Violence*
I became a multiculturally competent counselor after many positive and negative cross-cultural encounters in my life. I spent my youth growing up in a diverse culture in Pakistan. After immigrating to Canada, I became a minority and had to face many cross-cultural encounters. My culture and others’ cultures were spinning in my head as I searched for answers. I spent the first few years trying to grasp the idea of how culture varies among people and how it changes with one’s experiences. This rich experience intrigued me in many ways. I dove into classes that concentrated on culture, gender, sexuality, and religion because these were the things that I felt at the time made people unique.
I became interested in how a counselor can be multiculturally competent within the variety of cultures inside one country. It became evident that this is a skill that takes attention, time, and experience. I then completed my master’s in counselling psychology with many students from different backgrounds. I gained many helpful perspectives during my practicum and throughout my journey as a counseling associate since those earlier years. I have learned from their experiences and my experiences with them. I also realized that my previous cross-cultural experiences have taught me many things that I now bring into the counseling room. These experiences sparked my interest in how cross-cultural encounters inform multicultural counseling practices. It was then that I knew that culture and understanding human interactions would be a lifelong, shifting journey for me.
There are many questions we can ask ourselves that inform our thoughts on culture. Have you ever found yourself facing stress related to individualistic or collectivist cultural influences, and how has this affected your decision-making or perception of others? Do you experience anxiety when it comes to fulfilling roles within your family or maintaining relationships in line with your cultural values and the narratives you’ve been exposed to? Do you ever feel that your values and beliefs differ from those of your partner or other family members, leading to internal conflicts? Do you sense isolation in your workplace or educational environment due to variations in values, upbringing, or diversity? Have you encountered feelings of trauma and discrimination as an immigrant or refugee, stemming from differences in language, cultural perspectives, dress, and customs? Have you grappled with culture shock, along with sensations of loss, isolation, loneliness, and a lack of support? Are you experiencing the stress of acculturation as you navigate how to fit into a new society while harboring concerns about losing your own culture?
As a multicultural therapist, I am acutely aware of the significance of my own cultural values and traditions, which enhances my understanding of diverse perspectives. I am particularly attuned to the presence of cultural distinctions and potential stigmas. My goal is to create a non-judgmental space where I can facilitate your exploration of the world from your individual viewpoint. I wholeheartedly respect and value your worldview with a deep sense of acceptance and openness. We can then learn and practice together the appropriate, relevant, and culturally sensitive interventions that meet your personal needs. I will meet you where you are and incorporate your values into the counselling process, as appropriate.
If that resonates with you and you need a safe space to discuss your concerns and reconstruct new meanings, please feel free to reach out to me at [info@broadtherapy.ca](mailto:info@broadtherapy.ca) or call 902-266-2198 to connect with me.
References
Cohen, J. A., Kassan, A., Wada, K., Arthur, N., & Goopy, S. (2022). Enhancing multicultural and social justice competencies in Canadian counselling psychology training. *Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne*, 63(3), 298–312. [https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000287](https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000287)
Gelso, Charles J.; Williams, Elizabeth Nutt; Fretz, Bruce R. (2014). *Counseling Psychology* (Third ed.). Washington, D.C. ISBN 978-1-4338-1711-3. OCLC 861788982
Gundel, B. E., Bartholomew, T. T., & Scheel, M. J. (2020). Culture and care: An illustration of multicultural processes in a counseling dyad. *Practice Innovations*, 5(1), 19–31. [https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000104](https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000104)
Patallo, B. J. (2019). The multicultural guidelines in practice: Cultural humility in clinical training and supervision. *Training and Education in Professional Psychology*, 13(3), 227–232. [https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000253](https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000253)
Peters, H. C., Bruner, S., Luke, M., Dipre, K., & Goodrich, K. (2022). Integrated supervision framework: A multicultural, social justice, and ecological approach. *Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne*, 63(4), 511–522. [https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000342](https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000342)
