Mrs Annemarie Klingenberg

My research interests and involvement centre on the understanding that people do not live in isolation, but live socially within community, where our identities and worldviews are influenced by each other. Globalisaton has resulted in our world being increasingly diverse, resulting in individuals' broader exposure to a variety of worldviews, values, cultures and ideas. This impacts clinicians and clients. Traditionally, multicultural migrant counselling is approached through themes of loss and grief with a too-often societal demand for assimilation. My diverse professional experience, however, as supported by my research, strengthens my commitment to continuous exploration aimed at finding the unique benefits and strengths of diversity and the contributions brought by diversity and culture. My research and teaching approaches these concepts with multicultural humility and curiosity, rather than the historical view of cultural competence, a concept I believe to be unachievable. Whilst developing further understanding, my undertaking is to work towards a sense of belonging for all. My research endeavours evidence this professional interest.