Unveiling Identity Development: Navigating Conformity, White Identity Stages, and the Therapist's Vital Role

The Stages of Identity Development

At the conformity stage, peaceful individual integration is considered vital. Those coming from diverse cultural and racial groups are expected to keep away the differences in their backgrounds (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). Despite the fact that individuals have different backgrounds, they should treat each other equally.

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The different societal groups at this identity development stage are accepting themselves the way they are. Self-esteem should be cultivated in individuals in various groups. The self-esteem is attained by societal members learning to appreciate themselves with their backgrounds (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). This stage helps create self-worth amongst the less advantaged and the minority amid various groups.

Therapists have a great role in diverting the views of society on the less advantaged groups. The relevant accruals are thus remunerated to the groups of concern accordingly. Therapist advocates for justice to the groups of concern and that they should be well taken like any other member in the societal groups based. These clients' weaknesses are not taken for their benefit.

Therapists help subject groups appreciate and learn their backgrounds to which they use in cultivating loyalty and worth to themselves and other surrounding groups. Upon getting answers to their background quests, the individuals learn to equally appreciate other people’s culture.

Identity development is of great importance to societies. It helps in creating a good sense of help, connection with others, individuality, and personality. After critics are made over their cultural attributes, there comes a need to improve and make changes from the good understanding gained (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). The great virtues incorporated in the individuals shape their perceptions of great self and societal benefits.

Stages of White Identity Development

In the conformity stage, being white is associated with superiority and being right. Family and role models are the central agents to influencing people’s identities and values by reinforcing stereotypical attributes; the culture and values by the whites are given much priority and regarded the best.

The whites start to act to create injustices and inequalities to the ethnic minorities and other diverse groups. Bad attitudes are developed toward minorities (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). The beliefs, values, thoughts, and behaviors of the minority are rejected and given fewer whites' priorities.

Privileges and great priorities are only given to the whites. The minority are left suffering on their own with less or no considerations at all. In return, the practices may yield some guilt in whites and learn to appreciate the minorities.

A great sense of belonging is developed by being white. On assessing the whites' background, they learn to recognize the minorities who deserve equal chances to the whites too. Good and healthy relationships are developed for peaceful integration and coexistence, irrespective of race or color. Intergroup relationships are redefined and well assessed for practice.

A good understanding of identities creates an environment for understanding and accepting the entire human race irrespective of their identities (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). The whites learn to appreciate diversities and eliminate discriminatory and prejudicial practices towards minorities based on cultural and racial practices.

Understanding the Development of white racial identity helps create a mechanism of dealing with individuals of various calibers and levels (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). Knowing how to handle issues of concern in the most unique and comfortable ways without being a cause of problems to them irrespective of their different backgrounds is attained.

Importance of Understanding Identity Development to a Therapist

I am entitled to the following accruals on identity development; therapists can promote the rights of a client. As a therapist, I can personally intervene to assist clients in being accorded better treatment in their dealings and cases of concern.

The therapist can promote changes in society. I can make important organizational or governmental changes regarding my society of concern and may change an agency's policies (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). As a therapist, I can advocate for changes with the clinic policy to facilitate and improve the measures put concerning the provision of services to diverse and multicultural populations.

I can provide information concerning the information of a society held by a client. As a therapist, I have good access to clients' financial resources, occupational or academic opportunities, and housing. With the knowledge of how bureaucracies work, I can offer clients advice on chance optimization to work with agencies.

As a therapist, I can direct an agency or governments' commissions on civil rights, which helps investigate discriminatory practices on occurrence to individuals from age, race, gender, disability, and religion in the use of public facilities, voting times, education, or job scenarios.

I can inform the immigrant population of their rights and available services in the host nation to eliminate any fear of being in the agency of concerns (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). Among the rights, I will inform them of the right to have interpreters and services; medical attention is irrespective of immigration status.Under the consultation role of therapists, I can; Provide specialized knowledge of help in the facilitation of intervening on behalf of clients with their permission.

Basic Assumptions Made by Western Therapy

Western therapists have a psychosomatic approach to mental disorders. They tend to believe that factors in psychology can be deemed to be physical symptoms. On this matter, some other cultural groups believe that emotional problems like depression are associated with the implications of physical symptoms not limited to headaches, restlessness, fatigue, and disturbances in sleep and appetite. From these groups, it is evident that physical complaints are generally accepted and common ways of expressing emotional and psychological stress (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). Western therapists advocate that individuals seek attention to experiencing physical challenges as they are much entangled in the inner self in terms of psychology and emotions.

Clients develop to look at commonality issues between themselves and the therapists when they are in a dilemma to assess whether a therapist will be of importance and help. Such attributes limit clients' chances and morale to look for therapists around them (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). The action is constituted by vices such as race and other unethical practices which render them helpless.

Many clients end up joining numerous societal groups for them to get their comfort. They join each group on a set purpose, which they believe is not present with the other (Brammer & Shostrom, 1977). The individuals take the burden associated with joining numerous groups in pursuit of the associated benefits respectively.

For indigenous therapy treatments to be effective and considered over the active modern treatments, the feelings, behaviors, and ways of thinking within a given culture and the world view should be considered. To achieve the therapeutic goals necessary to reach its ultimate functions, an indigenous doctor should relate to their clients' perspectives on cultural beliefs.

Reference

Brammer, L. M., & Shostrom, E. L. (1977). Therapeutic psychology: Fundamentals of counseling and psychotherapy. Prentice-Hall.