ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that counsellors will increasingly intervene with clients of differing races, ethnic groups, cultural backgrounds, lifespan periods, genders, sexual orientations, and degrees of disability. Clients also have differing definitions of spirituality as well as differing levels of commitment to their spiritual beliefs. Some clients' problems will be specific to their particular culture, whereas other problems and frustrations will cross cultural lines. The chapter examines selected issues: how inclusive a definition of multicultural counselling should be, how clients' diversity can be addressed, how ethical and legal standards affect intervention, how assessment can be effective in multicultural settings, how online or distance counselling can play a role in the counselling process, and how counsellors can address research concerns in the twenty-first century. The chapter also shows how these issues affect the counselling process and the counselling profession.
