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Evolving Connections: How My Worldview Shapes Client Interactions

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Evolving Connections: How My Worldview Shapes Client Interactions

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My ability to interact with clients has been deeply influenced by my evolving values and beliefs, which shape my worldview. As a helper, I believe it’s essential to treat each client as unique, even if they may share similar worldviews. I strive to be mindful of using language and practices that are respectful of other cultures, and I aim to promote advocacy to foster positive change. An important aspect of this process is awareness. Without a deep understanding of my own values, biases, and cultural background, I risk unintentionally imposing my worldview on clients.

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As a younger person, I would never have anticipated such a profound shift in my worldview or the level of critical thinking I would apply to various issues. At that time, I accepted concepts at face value without questioning their deeper meaning or impact. However, with education and life experiences, I’ve grown more intentional about exploring ideas beyond the surface. Now, I value delving into the complexities of issues, seeking understanding rather than simple answers, and examining how these insights align with my evolving beliefs.

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From Deference to Dialogue: Evolving Perspectives on Authority

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From Deference to Dialogue: Evolving Perspectives on Authority

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This mindset of automatic deference to authority evolved as I encountered diverse perspectives and environments, particularly after moving to Canada. Exposure to Western cultural norms, which often encourage open dialogue, critical thinking, and questioning authority, challenged my ingrained beliefs about respect. I began to see that questioning authority doesn’t necessarily equate to disrespect; instead, it can lead to better understanding, collaboration, and growth.

Education played a significant role in this evolution. Through academic experiences, I learned the value of critical analysis and constructive feedback, even in hierarchical relationships. Engaging in discussions where diverse opinions were welcomed helped me understand that voicing dissenting views could foster mutual respect and innovation rather than conflict.

Over time, I have developed a more nuanced understanding of respect—one that includes honoring others’ wisdom while recognizing the importance of my own voice.

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Embracing Inclusivity: From Othering to Belonging

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Embracing Inclusivity: From Othering to Belonging

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Education has a played a huge role in transformation of my thoughts regarding belonging and othering. I now see this concept as there is "no other" I strongly believe in inclusivity which has taught me to cherish friendships, relationships, and communities that celebrate diversity rather than stigmatize it. As John A. Powell points out, adopting an inclusive mindset not only enriches our individual experiences but also enhances the fabric of our communities

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Honouring Individuality: Embracing Unique Worldviews in Client-Centered Practice"

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Honouring Individuality: Embracing Unique Worldviews in Client-Centered Practice"

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Reflecting on belonging and othering has led me to realize that while "there is no other," it’s essential to remember that each individual’s worldview is unique. Although helpers and clients may have overlapping perspectives, "no two people share exactly the same worldview"(Arthur,2019,p.7). Therefore, it’s crucial as helpers to treat each client as unique, using a client-centered approach to explore the distinct nuances of every individual’s perspective. Even when similarities exist in cultural identities or backgrounds, it’s important to avoid assuming shared understanding based on these alone. Instead, helpers must “value the diversity found in all of their clients” and develop skills to assess how clients' cultural identities might shape their presenting issues(Arthur,2019,p.7).

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My values and beliefs were shaped by my experiences in both India and Canada, reflecting a rich tapestry of influences from my community, immigration journey, lifestyle, religion, and socioeconomic status.

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The collectivist nature of South Asian culture provides a comforting and supportive environment, characterized by close-knit family ties and a deep sense of connection to something larger than oneself. Growing up in this community, I was instilled with strong values that emphasized respect for elders and authority figures. These values became deeply ingrained from an early age, shaping how I interacted with others and approached authority. There was an unspoken expectation to accept elders' opinions and decisions without question, as deference and compliance were seen as the ultimate expressions of respect. Pursuing goals that differed from family or community expectations was often regarded as selfish, further reinforcing this mindset. As a result, I developed an automatic inclination to respect authority, which sometimes made it challenging to voice my own opinions or question decisions made by those in positions of influence.

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Immigrating to Canada highlighted the contrast between belonging and othering, concepts that soon felt like unavoidable parts of human society. On my first day of school, I realized that my clothing marked me as “different,” as the “other.” This experience taught me that I would need to change aspects of myself to fit in—yet, even with these changes, there were spaces where I still felt I didn’t belong. I began to believe that some individuals naturally belonged while others did not, viewing these divisions as necessary to preserve certain social structures and cultural identities. Occasionally, I felt uncomfortable with the barriers created by othering, but I would dismiss these feelings, convincing myself that this was simply the way things were meant to be.

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Growing up in Canada, I’ve been fortunate to experience a culturally diverse lifestyle that has profoundly shaped my values and perspectives. From a young age, the diversity I encountered at school and work exposed me to a wide range of traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. This environment taught me the value of embracing activities rooted in different cultures, such as practicing yoga, exploring martial arts, tasting cuisines from around the world, and even learning new languages. Each experience brought a deeper appreciation for the uniqueness of other cultures and enriched my worldview.

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I used to see socioeconomic status and positionality as unavoidable aspects of society. I believed that where someone stood in terms of wealth or social status largely determined their place in the world, and that this hierarchy was simply how society functioned. Growing up, I often heard that people’s success was a reflection of their hard work or choices. This narrative made it easy to accept social and economic inequalities as fair, even if they felt somewhat uncomfortable. While I accepted these divides, I sometimes questioned why certain people seemed to face more barriers than others, regardless of how hard they worked. But I brushed aside these doubts, believing that everyone’s position was a product of their circumstances

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The Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is a sacred Sikh gurdwara located in Amritsar, India.

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Through religion I have learned to be non judgmental reminding me that we are all on our own unique paths. This belief has guided how I interact with people, encouraging me to listen without preconceived notions and to respect differing perspectives. Additionally, One of my core values is resilience, deeply influenced by my faith. During hardships, I’ve turned to religion, which encourages me to view challenges as tests of my strength and character. This perspective has helped me find purpose in difficult times, pushing me to persevere rather than lose hope. By framing my struggles as opportunities for growth, my faith has become a source of inner strength, reinforcing my resilience when faced with life’s uncertainties.

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Redefining Diversity: Beyond Celebration to Confronting Inequities

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Redefining Diversity: Beyond Celebration to Confronting Inequities

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Up until now, I viewed diversity primarily from a surface-level perspective, seeing it as a way to learn about and show respect for different cultures, as well as celebrating the richness of cultural practices and traditions. This view emphasized the appreciation of differences but didn’t fully address the underlying complexities that shape how we interact with those differences. While I understood that diversity brought people together by acknowledging cultural variety, I hadn't yet considered the deeper implications of how diversity intersects with power, privilege, and inequality. However, through my education, I gained a much more profound understanding of what diversity truly encompasses. Arthur (2019) played a crucial role in helping me critically engage with the concept by pointing out that "attitudes towards some people’s diversity are less than favorable and have contributed to social inequities" (p. 9). This insight challenged my previous understanding and made me realize that diversity isn’t just about celebrating differences in a harmonious way, but also about confronting the inequities that arise from negative attitudes and systemic biases. Arthur's work encouraged me to see how the value placed on certain diversities—and the dismissal or marginalization of others—can perpetuate social injustice and inequality. It broadened my understanding of diversity as a multifaceted issue that involves both recognising the inherent value in all cultures and addressing the inequities that often arise from how certain diversities are perceived and treated in society.

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Roots in Punjab: A Childhood Defined by Community

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Roots in Punjab: A Childhood Defined by Community

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I was born in a small town in Punjab, India, where life moved to the rhythm of community gatherings, the scent of home-cooked meals, and the vibrant traditions that filled the air. My childhood was woven with the warmth of family, where every morning began with the aroma of my mother’s chai, and evenings echoed with the sounds of laughter as children played in the narrow streets. It was a world where everyone knew each other, and the roots ran deep. Even though my early years were filled with warmth, strong family ties, and a close-knit community, they also came with deeply rooted biases, particularly evident in the rigid expectations around gender, respect for authority and education.

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At the age of twelve, my world changed . We packed our lives into our suitcases and moved to Canada. Canada, a place I had only seen in pictures and heard about in stories. The land of new opportunities, they said. As the plane descended into Vancouver, excitement mingled with uncertainty. The moment we stepped off the plane, I felt the chill of Canadian air, so different from the warmth of Punjab, but it wasn’t just the weather that felt unfamiliar.

Everywhere I looked, I saw faces that were different from mine, and the sounds of English swirled around me, a language that was both exciting and intimidating. My parents, who had always been my anchors, now seemed a bit lost themselves. We were stepping into a new world, where the rules were different, and the culture felt like a puzzle I had yet to solve.

Yet, as time passed, I began to notice the beauty of this new environment. The multicultural tapestry of Canada revealed itself in small ways — festivals celebrating diverse cultures, cuisines from around the world,I met kids from various backgrounds, each with their own story, and slowly, the sense of isolation began to fade.

With the beauty of acceptance my new world came with it's own set of biases such as language.

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I was part of a community where gender roles were imposed on us from birth. These roles were strictly divided between outdoor and indoor responsibilities. Outdoor work, associated with strength, agility, and the role of providing for the family, was viewed as the "real work" of men. In contrast, the indoor tasks typically handled by women such as child-rearing, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and gardening were often dismissed as non-work, seen merely as duties that needed to be done rather than valued contributions.(P.8)

Anyone who identified outside of these prescribed roles or norms wasn’t fully accepted into the community and was often marginalized.

This bias influenced how I judged others’ roles or decisions, such as men taking on caregiving roles or women pursuing careers traditionally associated with men. It also affected how I viewed my own aspirations and potential roles in society.

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Respect for authority was something deeply ingrained in me growing up in India. From an early age, I was taught to defer to elders, teachers, and other authority figures without questioning their decisions or viewpoints. Whether it was following traditions at home or adhering to rules at school, questioning authority was rarely encouraged and often felt disrespectful.

For example, in school, there was an unspoken rule that you didn’t question the teacher. Even if you disagreed or didn’t fully understand, raising concerns wasn’t always welcomed. This mindset extended into family life, where decisions made by elders whether regarding education, career, or personal choices were generally considered final.

This restricted my ability to voice dissenting opinions or advocate for myself or others in situations where I disagreed with authority figures, reinforcing the idea that compliance was a sign of respect

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From an early age, I was taught that success in school was not just important—it was essential for a secure future. This belief permeated every aspect of childhood, where top grades and ranking in class became a measure of worth, intelligence, and even family pride.

In school, I recall a clear divide between students who excelled academically and those who struggled. This in turn created a strong bias within me that if you weren’t excelling academically, you weren’t putting in enough effort, and this judgment extended to both peers and teachers alike.

This school of thought led me to undervalue other strengths or talents, such as creativity, emotional intelligence, or practical skills.

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My culture and upbringing in Canada shaped certain biases in me, one of the most prominent being around language. Growing up, I quickly learned to associate language proficiency with competence. I was quick to assume that if someone struggled with English, it was a reflection of their intelligence or capability. This bias of learning English under pressure to adapt quickly led to an assumption that others struggling with language lacked intelligence or effort. This connection between language skills and capability became an unconscious bias.

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Understanding Inequality: The Intersection of Socioeconomic Status and Systemic Factors

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Understanding Inequality: The Intersection of Socioeconomic Status and Systemic Factors

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I’ve come to understand that socioeconomic status and positionality are shaped not only by individual circumstances but also by the intersectionality of factors like race, gender, and other identities. People’s experiences with social and economic opportunity are often influenced by systemic inequalities that disproportionately impact certain groups. Recognizing this intersectional framework has helped me see that success and social standing are not solely a reflection of personal effort but are also deeply intertwined with broader societal structures. This awareness has reshaped my understanding of inequality, prompting me to consider how factors beyond individual control contribute to people’s diverse experiences and outcomes.

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Balancing Faith and Support: Evolving Resilience Through Religion

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Balancing Faith and Support: Evolving Resilience Through Religion

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Although religion continues to be a powerful source of resilience for me, I’ve also come to recognize that relying solely on faith can sometimes foster excessive self-reliance. While viewing challenges as tests of inner strength often helps me persevere, this perspective can also make it tempting to handle struggles independently, rather than seeking external support when needed. Balancing my faith with a willingness to reach out has been essential in maintaining both my resilience and well-being.

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Respecting Boundaries: Embracing Diversity with Cultural Integrity

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Respecting Boundaries: Embracing Diversity with Cultural Integrity

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Seeing diversity in a deeper way helps me understand why, as a helper, I need to be careful with using practices from other cultures, especially if they aren’t part of my own background. Instead of just viewing diversity as celebrating or learning about other cultures, I now understand it also means respecting boundaries, especially around sacred practices. "For example, methods of healing from indigenous cultures are based on traditions and for use by indigenous counsellors. Non-indigenous counsellors need to guard against replication of colonialism and seek permission about the appropriate use of any traditional healing methods" (Arthur,(2019),p.8).

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Advocating for Equity: Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities and Power Dynamics

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Advocating for Equity: Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities and Power Dynamics

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My experience with socioeconomic status has led me to realize that while not everyone within dominant groups (those with more societal privilege) has the same level of power, they generally have better access to resources like education, employment, and healthcare, which often contributes to higher socioeconomic status. This unequal distribution of power marginalizes those in non-dominant groups, whose differences may be unfairly viewed as inferior or less deserving of equal access to resources. Therefore, as helpers, "this perspective encourages us to advocate for changes in the dynamics of power at systemic levels, which is often controlled by people from the dominant population, who frequently hold more privilege and power"(Arthur,2019,p.12).

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Embracing Self-Awareness: Cultivating Ethical and Culturally Just Counseling Practices

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Embracing Self-Awareness: Cultivating Ethical and Culturally Just Counseling Practices

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I believe self-awareness is a crucial aspect of counselling, as it helps uncover the biases and beliefs I may hold as a helper. Additionally, as helpers, our personal identities and social locations may be privileged, which can unintentionally lead to oppression. "Without deep reflection on, and self-awareness of our personal cultural identities, there is a risk of imposing our worldview on our clients' (p.16)." Additionally, self-awareness also helps us recognize how the "use of popular counselling models, which are most often based on an individualistic worldview, may represent a form of oppression for clients who do not share the underlying cultural assumptions of such models"(Arthur,2019,p.16). Therefore, rather than expecting clients to align with the counsellor's perspective, ethical and socially just counselling calls for counsellors to adjust their practices to be client-centered and to show deep respect for clients' worldviews, especially when there are significant differences between them.(Arthur,2019,p.16)

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Bridging Cultures: My Journey, Biases, and Growth

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Bridging Cultures: My Journey, Biases, and Growth

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This Padlet explores my cultural background and immigration journey, highlighting how these experiences have shaped my identity and worldview. I reflect on the biases I’ve developed while navigating life in both India and Canada, examining how these perspectives have influenced my values and beliefs. Through personal growth and exposure to diverse cultures, I discuss the evolution of my core values and how they continue to shape my interactions and decisions. Lastly, I connect these reflections to my approach to counseling, emphasizing how my background and insights guide me toward fostering a culturally sensitive, inclusive, and empathetic practice.

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I chose Padlet as a format to challenge myself and move beyond the traditional structure of a written paper. This approach has encouraged me to adapt to new learning styles, pushing me to think creatively about how I present information. Learning to work within this format has reminded me of the importance of flexibility and openness to new methods, which are crucial in counseling as well. Just as using a new format has expanded my understanding, adapting to different ways of learning and engaging with clients is essential to becoming culturally competent. I’m recognizing that cultural competence requires a willingness to step outside familiar methods and genuinely embrace the perspectives and experiences of others. This experience has been valuable in helping me think more holistically about how to meet the diverse needs of clients in my future practice.

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Diversity: Embracing Uniqueness in Every Client

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Diversity: Embracing Uniqueness in Every Client

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My worldview significantly influences how I approach interpersonal and professional relationships by fostering an appreciation for diversity. Growing up in a South Asian community and later adapting to Canadian multiculturalism taught me the importance of acknowledging and valuing individual differences. This understanding shapes my client interactions, where I strive to ensure that each person’s unique background, experiences, and identity are respected and validated.

I am mindful of avoiding assumptions based on cultural stereotypes and focus on actively listening to each client’s story to understand their specific needs and perspectives. This client-centered approach reflects my commitment to diversity by prioritizing individuals over generalized cultural narratives. By recognizing and embracing the richness of diverse identities, I aim to create meaningful connections that honor each person’s uniqueness.

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Equity: Advocating for Fairness and Breaking Barriers

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Equity: Advocating for Fairness and Breaking Barriers

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My experiences with bias and cultural expectations have heightened my awareness of systemic inequities and the barriers clients may face in their personal or professional lives. I actively advocate for equity by addressing challenges such as language obstacles, cultural misunderstandings, or unequal access to resources. For instance, if a client experiences workplace discrimination, I work collaboratively with them to identify strategies for empowering their voice and navigating these issues effectively.

By addressing systemic inequities, I aim to promote fairness and ensure that all clients have an equal opportunity to achieve their goals. My commitment to equity involves not only recognizing disparities but also actively supporting clients in overcoming the obstacles that hinder their progress.

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Inclusion: Building Safe and Empowering Spaces

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Inclusion: Building Safe and Empowering Spaces

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Inclusion is a key principle in both my personal and professional life, as I strive to create safe, welcoming, and collaborative spaces for all. My worldview encourages me to approach relationships with cultural humility and openness, ensuring that everyone feels heard and respected. For example, in team settings, I prioritize collaborative decision-making to ensure that diverse voices contribute to the process.

This inclusive approach fosters stronger relationships and builds mutual trust and understanding. It also guides my counseling practice, where I work to maintain an empathetic and inclusive environment that empowers clients to feel valued and supported. By integrating inclusion into my work, I aim to honor the identities of my clients and help them build meaningful connections within their own communities.

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Arthur, N. (2019). Counselling in cultural contexts: Identities and social justice. Springer.

Otherness and Belonging. John a. Powell | [Video]. Retrieved from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKxQ0lncBnk