Cultural Competence Assessment“Cultural competence is the ability to engage in actions or create conditions that maximize the optimal development of client and client systems” (Sue & Sue, 2013, p. 49). Multicultural competence requires the counselor to be aware of their own biases, knowledge of the culture they are assessing, and ability to evaluate a client with diverse backgrounds (Sue & Sue, 2013). Client assessment involves gathering information regarding the client's condition. Making a culturally responsive diagnosis involves using the DSM-IV-TR axis (Hays, 2008). Following the axis backwards is ideal for discovering the client's diagnosis, understanding the client's ADDRESS pattern will help in coming to a closer resolution for a diagnosis. Evaluation of symptoms Axis I: Clinical disorders: 300.1 Panic disorder without agoraphobia 307.80 Pain disorder associated with psychological factors V62 .89 Religious or spiritual problem V61.20 Parent-child relational problem Axis II: Personality/developmental disorders: V71.09 No diagnosis on Axis IIAxis III: relevant physical complaints Recurrent heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweaty hands, tightness in the chestAxis IV: psychosocial and environmental problemsProblems with father's acceptance, rejection of church faith, work problems, other problems (daughter diagnosed with serious heart disease) Axis V: Global assessment of functioning I believe her GAF is around 71-80 Axis VI: ADDRESS Age and generational influences: 37 years old, born in Haiti in 1966, lives with her paternal grandmother until age of seven. The eldest of four children. Developmental Disabilities: None reported. Disabilities Acquired Later in Life: None reported. Religion…half of the document…the usefulness and accuracy of one's diagnosis” (Hays, 2008, p. 160). Using the ADDRESSING framework helps organize information regarding the client's cultural influences (Hays, 2008). Unless the counselor fully understands the client's culture, making a diagnostic diagnosis may not be as simple as with a client with the same culture as the counselor. Works CitedHays, P. A. (2008). Addressing cultural complexities in practice: Assessment, diagnosis, and therapy (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & SonsTip sheet on Haitian culture. (n.d.). New Paltz, NY: Institute for Disaster Mental Health. Retrieved December 6, 2012, from www.newpaltz.edu/idmh/IDMH%20Haiti%20Culture%20Tip%20Sheet.pdf