Culture is a crucial factor in how we understand others and how they understand our lives; it can be epically influential in times of emotional distress. Cultural factors play an essential role in all spheres of our lives, and it definitely makes a difference in the development of our world views, norms, trends, stressors, and mental health issues. Because of how we are brought up so differently, therapy must be personalized to our different customs, beliefs, and habits.

What?

Culturally sensitive therapy is an approach in which therapists emphasize understanding a client's background, ethnicity, and system of values. This makes it easier to create a more comforting environment, with accommodation to a client’s differences in opinions and attitudes. Furthermore, coming from various backgrounds, we have different expectations about person-to-person communication, and a counselor can personalize and guide you to a place of better wellness by truly understanding where you are coming from with your thoughts. 

According to the US National Library of Medicine (1), clinical studies have shown that therapists without an understanding of the context of one’s social background may often slip into stereotypes and unintentional insensitive attitudes. Counseling that honors cultural sensitivity can often be the most successful in mitigating the anxiety, depression, or other issues that you want to resolve long-term. A huge aim in the field of mental wellness has been to create a close, empathetic bond between the therapist and clients- and this positive outcome can definitely push forward in a multicultural therapy setting. 

Why?

There are several reasons why every patient should be treated with Culturally Sensitive Care:

Firstly, a therapist would show empathy and remain non-judgmental about their beliefs and understanding of their illnesses. Because they would often understand the environment that they are coming from, counseling can involve different communication techniques and verbiage accustomed to each person walking through the door. A therapist can understand how your background shapes your identity, self-perception, and the reasoning behind your choices to better guide you in reaching your goals. 

Secondly, culturally sensitive care acknowledges that no one should be pushed to accept a diagnostic treatment without explanation- therapists need to build trust over time and use simple terms that are acceptable like 'stress' 'sadness' 'worries' 'nervousness' etc. Describing this biological disorder in a way that is informative, yet kind will create a better sense of awareness and encouragement to open up. Growing up, we’ve all been taught to use certain phrases more openly, whereas other taboos are less comfortable to touch upon; this can allow you to feel at ease rather than under pressure in this already nerve-wracking experience. 

Lastly, cultural competence involves knowing the religious and traditional customs the patients believe in, if any. Religious and spiritual standpoints, in general, can be a source of support from diagnosing mental health problems to working on the road to recovery. It is advised to use a referral for the patient to a mental health provider that speaks their language and ideally is from the same cultural background. The experience varies and is hugely shaped by the belief one grew up in. So, it is of utmost importance that one feels trust and is open to connecting (which can be more easily done with someone who comes from a similar space).

Find a Safe Space

The attitude toward mental illness varies among individuals, families,  cultures and countries. Cultural and religious teachings often influence beliefs about the origins and nature of mental illnesses and shape attitudes towards those that seek therapy. Therefore, understanding individual and cultural beliefs about mental illness are essential for the implementation of effective approaches to mental health care. Although each individual's experience with mental illness is unique, many cultures value "conformity to norms, emotional self-control, [and] family recognition through achievement," According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, and yet, therapy can be often stigmatized.

Furthermore, diverse communities are often unfairly burdened with social instigations associated with mental illness, including poverty, discrimination, and exposure to violence. Many of these cultural groups also encounter an obstacle in their treatments due to social taboos, as well as language differences and mistrust of mental healthcare centers. This can have consequences in terms of whether people are motivated to seek treatment, how they cope with their symptoms, and, most importantly, how supportive their families and communities are when they seek help.

How?

It’s always a daunting task to open up about your family life and relationships around you, many of which can have a bearing on mental health and mental illness. Conditions such as child abuse, a lack of affection, and even communication methods also place children at risk for mental illnesses- it is more common than you’d think, so know that you aren’t alone.

Family Risk and Protective Factors can have a larger influence on us than we think, as they have the ability to both magnify or mitigate the development of mental health differences. These factors include community attachment or involvement, family discipline or opportunities for social behaviors, academic commitments, and beliefs or emotional interactions with peers. Cultural influences can guide the behavior of those around us, and therapists can better understand how these disparities could 

We have a database of over five-hundred carefully selected therapists that emphasize cultural understanding. Finding supportive and sensitive counseling can be an overwhelming project-- do not hesitate to connect with us here to get matched to find personalized counseling! 

References:

(1)  Baker, K A. “The Importance of Cultural Sensitivity and Therapist Self-Awareness When Working with Mandatory Clients.” Family Process, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1999, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10207710.