Introduction

The origins of this book began in small conversations in small offices over many years. Our conversations have been professionally focused on sharing the most effective ways to address cultural inclusivity in our counseling and classrooms, and they have been personal in sharing our vulnerability regarding our challenges, pride, excitement, hurt, and anger stimulated through our intercultural interactions. Although our roles for this volume are co-authors and co-editors, the three of us have relationships that span student-teacher, counselor-supervisor, mentee-mentor, and eventually colleague-to-colleague and friend-to-friend. Conversations encompassing cultural diversity and its impact on play therapy are typical for our personal interactions, taking place in a trusted and safe relationship. It is through this long-standing relationship that we embarked on this idea that we wanted to share the framework and types of conversations that keep us encouraged and enthusiastic about cultural inclusivity.