Rethinking Multicultural Counseling Competence: An Introduction to the Major Contribution

In this introductory article of the Major Contribution, we explore the construct of multicultural counseling competence, particularly its inception and the early social movements from which it evolved. We posit that although the intentions of early pioneers and professional organizations were admirable and the subsequent body of work impressive, progress has stalled. A conceptual and operational impasse now impedes advancement of the discourse and ultimately hinders our ability to adequately serve clients, supervisees, and consultees who are the beneficiaries of our efforts. In this article, we lay the foundation for an analysis of the impasse, a proposal for an alternative model of the construct, and a case conceptualization that demonstrates usage of the model. We conclude by providing an overview of the Major Contribution, including a synopsis of the subsequent three articles and our intention to rejuvenate this dialogue with our colleagues and students.