Editor's note on multicultural compentencies.

The Journal of Mental Health Counseling has a tradition of providing, through peer reviewed articles, a forum for stimulating and engaging scholarly dialogue on issues that are relevant to mental health professionals' work and development. Consistent with that history, this issue's special section of JMHC's Professional Exchange consists of six articles in which the authors' express their views on multicultural competencies. These articles harbinger back to the Weinrach and Thomas article that was published in JMHC in January 2002. In publishing this Professional Exchange set of articles, AMHCA's leadership and I assume that it is obvious to all readers and authors that the written opinions and positions, like other publications in refereed journals, represent the scholarly work of the particular professionals. The authors' opinions are not reflective of the position of the journal's editor or its editorial board, and the articles do not represent the views of AMHCA's leadership. The journal, though published by AMHCA, does not make policy for Mental Health Counselors and certainly does not intrude into other mental health professions by suggesting policy for another organization.

Multiculturalism and diversity, by whatever name, are currently "hot" and important topics for mental health professionals. The special section's topic, multicultural competencies, is consistent with the previous editor's (Kelly, 1996) focus on "contemporary challenges ... and constructive accomplishments that will strengthen ... the development of the profession" (p. 195). It also fits with my own view (Pistole, 2002) that "it is imperative that authors discuss their theoretical and scientific ideas in relation to multicultural diversity (e.g., ethnicity, age, capableness, gender, religion, geographical area) and the broader social context (e.g., the socio-economic-historical times, the multicultural-family matrix)" (p. 190). Because MHCs are philosophically committed to the development of professionals who conceptualize with a holistic-contextual approach to mental health, multiculturalism / diversity can be construed as relevant to MHCs' practice and research. Thus, some mental health professionals argue for the need to consider the multiplicity of diversity / cultural elements in clients' identities as a central aspect of counseling in today's world--whether the client is a majority group member, a minority group member, an immigrant, a refugee, or an international person. From this perspective, additional knowledge and understanding, for example, whether the culturally relevant issues of an African American and an immigrant from Africa are similar or different, are also viewed as useful to researchers, mental health practitioners, and students in training.

Nonetheless, mental health professionals disagree on issues, including the most appropriate way to provide bias-free counseling services. The process of scholarly dialogue on the issues can help produce an inclusive environment and counseling process, so long as conflict is centered on ideas, rather than persons, and so long as the discussion is evidentially based and looking to research to support theory. Speaking broadly, it seems that it is difficult for persons to embrace a different culture without embracing the values or products that are contraindicated by one's own allegiances and affinities, and even professionals sometimes initiate boundaries that maintain their own cultural perspective and reject others' way of life. One boundary-making procedure is to shut down dissenting positions during disagreements. In my opinion, shutting down scholarly positions is problematic. To enact the spirit of multiculturalism / diversity is to include, support, and respect the mental health professions' hearing voices that dissent as well as support an issue. In the process of shutting down voices, a person or a position is rendered invisible, isolated, and disenfranchised. In contrast, a continuing dialogue has the potential to promote mental health professionals' effective practice and research.

REFERENCES

Kelly, K. R. (1996). Looking to the future: Professional identity, accountability, and change. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 18, 195-199.

Pistole, M. C. (2002). The JMHC news: Changes and stability. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 24, 189-194.

M. Carole Pistole, Ph.D., is an associate professor, Department of Educational Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. E-mail [e-mail].