Conducting Participatory Culture-Specific Consultation: A Global Perspective on Multicultural Consultation

Abstract

School psychologists, as consultants in the U.S., are continually challenged by the culturally diverse needs of students, teachers, and schools. In this article, we describe a participatory approach to consultation that builds upon contemporary models of research and practice and is designed to address the culture-specific needs of individuals and systems. The Participatory Culture-Specific Consultation (PCSC) model embodies a participatory interpersonal process and relies on ethnographic and action research methods to guide the development of culture-specific interventions. To illustrate PCSC, we describe the research and consultation techniques used to develop mental health promotion programs in the developing country of Sri Lanka. PCSC is applicable to culture-specific consultation within the U.S., but requires that school psychologists extend their expertise as researchers and practitioners. Despite successful use of PCSC in Sri Lanka, additional research is needed regarding the effective use of PCSC by school psychologists working in U.S. schools.