Assessing Cultural Competence The purpose of the assessment is to address the competence of different cultures. The number of Haitian immigrants to the United States continues to grow at a steady rate (DeSilva, Gonzales-Eastep, Gray, & Nicolas, 2006). It is very important that mental health professionals are better informed and develop the skills necessary to combine the cultural backgrounds of professionals and clients in treatment (DeSilva, Gonzales-Eastep, Gray & Nicolas, 2006). I will be conducting an evaluation on Ms. Hudson, a Haitian American woman who was referred by her primary care physician, due to symptoms that; he is experimenting when he leaves the house. This is the first time Ms. Hudson has seen a mental health counselor. V1 Axis Addressing Format (Hays, 2008) Age: Mrs. Hudson is a 37-year-old Haitian American woman living with her husband of 10 years and two 8-year-old sons. (son) and 2 (daughter).Mrs. Hudson worked as a primary care physician. Mr. Hudson is a firefighter. She has come to therapy to discuss recent problems; he had when he left his home. Ms. Hudson describes a pattern of behavior that began four months ago while she was shopping with her children. He began to experience the following symptoms: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweaty palm, and tightness in his chest. History: Mrs. Hudson was born in Haiti in 1966 and lived with her paternal grandmother until she was 7 years old. Her mother and father immigrated to the United States soon after, Mrs. Hudson was born. He married and had three more children. The father did not work, the mother worked in a sewing factory. Ms Hudson described her relationship with her father as strained. She has tried to please him most of her life... middle of paper... repressively; we cannot meet our financial obligations and provide for our families. In other words, the things we treat and give drugs to treat, which in American is "depression" to another culture, are not important to treat. These are two different ways that healing is something to learn about the differences in our clients' culture. References DeSilva, A.M., Gonzalez-Eastep, D. Gray, K.S. and Nicolas, G. (2006) Using a Multicultural Illnesses Among Haitians Living in America: From the American Psychological Association. Desrosiers, A., & Fleurose, S. (2002). Caring for Haitian patients: Key cultural aspects. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 56, No, 4 2002. Hays, P. S. (2008) Addressing cultural complexities in practice: Assessment, diagnosis, and therapy (2nd ed). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.