As a counsellor, sensitivity to difference is essential: Counselling cannot take place without taking into account people’s individual situations, experiences, possibilities and needs. A sensitive approach to people of different ages, gender, social or societal background and character, appearance, religion and ideology is a prerequisite for appreciative and reflective counselling. Therefore, the acquisition of intercultural competence is a basic requirement for counsellors.
In order to counter possible experiences of discrimination on the part of those seeking counselling, it helps to structure the counselling in a discrimination-sensitive way. This includes, for example, knowing the principles of gender-sensitive counselling and presenting occupational fields in a gender-neutral way, reflecting on gender stereotypes and addressing the compatibility of family and work. Knowledge of the General Equal Treatment Act, which you can find on the website of the Anti-Discrimination Office, is worthwhile for this, as is the manual "Legal Protection against Discrimination", which provides information on legal principles and possibilities for action.
Migration-sensitive counselling requires an understanding on the part of the counsellor that those seeking advice have had specific and often negative experiences due to their migration history. The publication "'Where do you originally come from?' Experiences of Discrimination and Phenotypical Difference in Germany" by the Expert Council of German Foundations for Integration and Migration presents the subjective perceptions of disadvantage of immigrants. The Policy Brief thus gives counsellors an insight into the experiences of migrants. It shows how a person's phenotypical appearance is related to their experience of discrimination. Thus, people who are attributed foreign origin based on their appearance are more often affected by discrimination than others. In addition, differences between groups of origin and between members of different religions are examined.