| Worldview assessment can serve as a mediating | | | | collective orientations of the organization, treatment |
| variable that can help operationalize client constructs | | | | units, staff, and patients. The effectiveness of |
| that relate to personal identity in a number of ways. | | | | treatment is enhanced when there is reasonable |
| Studies of the worldviews of different ethnic groups | | | | congruence. This allows for individualization of |
| suggest that ethnicity can affect patient expectancy, | | | | treatment planning, such as the incorporation of |
| engagement in treatment, and attrition rates. Cultural | | | | nature walks for someone with a strong 'harmony |
| matching in terms of worldviews and cultural identity | | | | with nature' orientation. In addition to diagnostic and |
| has been suggested as a means to facilitate the | | | | therapeutic applications, such profiling can augment |
| process of establishing a trusting therapeutic | | | | the discharge planning process. For example, a more |
| relationship. | | | | complete understanding of the client's relationship |
| Worldviews can enhance the therapeutic process. | | | | worldview would help clarify whether aftercare |
| Many people in need of counseling have some | | | | recommendations should involve independent living |
| specific aspect of their worldview that has not been | | | | versus family or structured care environments. |
| functioning effectively. During the initial stage of | | | | In addition to worldview assessments offering an |
| counseling, the counselor strives to achieve | | | | opportunity to enhance the therapeutic process, |
| congruence with his or her client's worldview as a | | | | ethical obligation requires the profession to implement |
| basis for enhancing the therapeutic relationship. During | | | | solutions to ensure professional competency. From a |
| the intervention phase, exploring specific | | | | position of dominant power in the therapeutic |
| discrepancies and possible solutions facilitates change. | | | | relationship, the organization and counselors have an |
| An appreciation of worldviews can help counselors | | | | ethical obligation to protect the welfare of the client |
| better understand themselves and their clients. It | | | | and take whatever steps necessary to enhance the |
| makes values, beliefs, and assumptions explicit and | | | | potential to positively impact treatment outcomes. |
| can facilitate the agreement on treatment goals and | | | | Incorporation of the construct and application of |
| processes appropriate to the client. It is therefore | | | | worldview assessment into counselor training and |
| important to assess the client's worldview during the | | | | continuing education programs is recommended. The |
| initial screening process, and to tailor the counseling | | | | construct of worldview assessment provides tools |
| approach to be congruent with the worldview of the | | | | and a reasonable framework for conceptualizing |
| client. Persons are inclined to prefer and respond | | | | individualized treatment based on the view of the |
| more favorably to a counseling approach that is | | | | world of all people from differing backgrounds and |
| congruent with their cultural and philosophical | | | | experiences. It is our ethical obligation to take |
| orientations. | | | | proactive measures to continue to enhance the |
| It is important to consider alignment of worldview | | | | competency of the programs and services we offer |
| orientations across various systems within a | | | | as psychotherapists and counsellors. |
| treatment facility. Consideration must be given to the | | | | |