title: Transformative learning through international immersion: building multicultural competence in family therapy and counseling.
abstract: This study explores the experiences of graduate students who completed one of two international courses facilitated by family therapy faculty in a U.S. master's-level counseling psychology department. Participants reported that international courses were personally and professionally transformative. Spending time in a foreign country gave them opportunities to learn from cultural differences, ultimately increasing the social and global awareness required for multicultural sensitivity. Experiential learning, reflection, and dialogue resulted in raised critical consciousness among participants. In this article, we discuss the transformational learning processes embedded in international courses and the potential benefits of these experiences on the development of multicultural sensitivity in family therapists and counselors in training.
authors.affiliation: Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy program, Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Lewis & Clark College, 615 SW Palantine Hill Road, Portland, OR 97035, USA. teresamc@lclark.edu
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goessling
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Melendez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007858:Learning; D008877:Middle East; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States