Stacy is a high school counselor. A Vietnamese student, Hanh, is assigned to her
Stacy is a high school counselor. A Vietnamese student, Hanh, is assigned to her because of academic difficulties. Stacy observes that Hanh is slow and deliberate in his conversational style, and she immediately assigns him to a remedial speech class. In the course of their conversations, Hanh discloses to Stacy that his father wants him to apply to college and major in pre-med. Hanh is not sure that he even wants to attend college. Stacy gives Hanh a homework assignment, asking him to tell his father that he no longer wants to pursue college plans and wants to follow a direction that appeals to him.
Please provide your thoughtful answer the following questions using your critical thinking skills as a multiculturally competent Human Service Professional:
Was the fact that Hanh spoke slowly and deliberately an indication that he needed a remedial speech class? Can you offer other explanations for Hanh’s slow and deliberate speech?
If you were Hanh’s counsleor, how would you deal with the conflict between Hanh’s goals and his father’s expectations?
Was Stacy culturally sensitive when asking Hanh to directly confront his father? What other alternatives were available?
Was Stacy too quick in making her assessments, considering that Hanh was sent to the school counselor by a teacher? Would it have made a difference if he had come voluntarily for guidance?
Would you recommend family counseling? If so, how would you present this to Hanh and his parents?
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