Noting that the racial and cultural tension that exists in the larger society may also be found in counseling relationships, the author suggests that in order to lessen this tension, effective cross-cultural counselors should employ seven strategies in order to build rapport with clients in the criminal justice system. First and foremost cross-cultural counselors should have an awareness of their own personal biases, assumptions, and stereotypes. Second, counselors should take the time to increase credibility in the cross-cultural counseling relationship by enlisting a variety of techniques. Explaining these techniques, which comprise the last five strategies the author suggests are important in fostering an effective client-counselor relationship, the author discusses the importance of a counselor displaying sincerity, energy, knowledge of a client’s culture, a non-judgmental attitude, and counselor resourcefulness. Although cultural differences can create barriers to change when working with clients in the criminal justice system, the strategies discussed in this article will enable counselors to build therapeutic bridges in their work. 10 Endnotes