How Cross-Cultural Therapy And Counseling Can Enhance Mental Health
While licensed therapists are typically trained in evidence-based approaches, their impact may be limited without training in cultural competence, or the ability to provide informed care to clients of diverse backgrounds. As the American Psychological Association defines it, this competence also involves “a recognition of the diversity both between and within cultures, a capacity for cultural self-assessment, and a willingness to adapt personal behaviors and practices.” Here, we’ll talk about cross-cultural psychotherapy (also called multicultural therapy or culturally competent therapy) and the ways that cultural competency in a therapist can lead to meaningful client progress and healing.
Cross-cultural therapy and help-seeking
Cross-cultural therapy practices take into account how culture influences ideas about mental health and relationships. For example, different cultures may have different ideas about help-seeking behavior. Some cultural groups may be more hesitant to seek support for mental health or relationship challenges, preferring to manage various concerns within the family or as part of a faith community. Other cultures might be more open to psychotherapy outside their community. Also, some people might have a mix of traditional ideas from their own culture and family and concepts they have obtained from others in their environment.
A therapist who is trained in cross-cultural therapy will be sensitive to these nuances in their clients, never making assumptions, judging, or offering advice or guidance that doesn't take a person's cultural identity and context into account.
Individualism vs. collectivism in different cultures
Another topic related to therapy that can vary widely from culture to culture is individualism vs. collectivism. In some cultures, people may emphasize self-reliance more than collectivism, or vice versa. Other cultures may not fall neatly into collectivism or individualism, with facets from various cultures. This factor can affect how the client arrives at the therapy process and the type of support they may need from the therapist.
Language and counseling
Another way that therapists can make their mental health services more culturally sensitive and therefore more impactful is to provide linguistically appropriate care. If a therapist doesn’t speak the native or dominant language of a particular client, they might try to find a therapist who does and provide a referral. If a bilingual therapist isn’t available, they might be able to find a professional interpreter.
Biculturalism in therapy
Many people in the United States have a bicultural background. For example, they may have been raised by parents from a certain culture(s) but in a country their parents did not grow up in. As a result, they may have beliefs and attitudes from both. Therapists must remember, in such cases, to not make assumptions about their clients just based on linguistic or cultural background.
For example, if a client’s family is from a certain country but they grew up in the United States, they may demonstrate cultural facets from both backgrounds. Each individual can have a diverse array of beliefs and values that align with or diverge from their cultural background, and therapists who do not make assumptions based on a client’s appearance or ethnic background will typically provide the most understanding and effective care.
Finding a culturally competent mental health professional
If you’re experiencing mental health or relationship challenges, you may be able to find a local therapist who either comes from your cultural background or has experience working with people from that background.
A culturally competent therapist can provide meaningful support that takes your culture into account without assuming that your values or experiences will always align neatly with those often associated with a specific group.
Online multicultural therapy
If you live in an area with few mental health professionals, or if you prefer to not speak with a local therapist, you might consider online therapy. A platform like BetterHelp has a diverse network of more than 25,000 mental professionals, which may increase your chances of getting matched with someone who understands your specific culture. BetterHelp also allows you to change therapists at any time for no additional cost until you find the right provider for your needs.
Once matched, you can connect with your therapist in a way that feels right for you—either via audio, video, or in-app messaging. This means you can participate in therapy from the comfort of home or anywhere with a reliable internet connection.
Also consider the growing support for the effectiveness of online therapy in the psychological literature. For example, one systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 17 studies on online therapy. The findings suggest that online cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can often be even more effective than in-person therapy for reducing symptoms of depression, with other studies also indicating its effectiveness for treating a range of other conditions and concerns.
Takeaway
What is cross-cultural therapy?
Cross-cultural therapy refers to mental health care that considers a person’s cultural differences. These can involve ethnic differences as well as generational, racial, and other differences, as people may experience unique, compounding challenges related to the intersection of various identity groups.
What are some multi-cultural therapy practices?
There are many different multicultural counseling practices a provider may use. Examples include respecting the language preferences of each client, considering cultural factors, and being informed about cultural practices and beliefs while avoiding assumptions that don’t take into account individual differences.
How does cross-cultural counseling help with mental health treatment?
Cross-cultural therapy meets people where they are at and empowers them to heal in a way that makes sense to them. A cross-cultural mental health treatment framework may help people achieve better outcomes by helping them understand their thoughts and emotions in a cultural context.
How do mental health challenges look different in different cultures?
According to research by The University of Chicago, people in some cultures with mental health challenges experience more physical symptoms than psychological symptoms. For example, some people experiencing mental health concerns might experience chest pain.
How can cultural differences affect LGBTQ+ individuals in therapy?
One example of how cultural differences can affect LGBTQ+ individuals in therapy is related to family rejection or acceptance. People from diverse backgrounds may have diverse experiences when it comes to how their family has treated them based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
What is multicultural therapy?
Multicultural therapy is sometimes used as a synonym for cross-cultural therapy. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines multicultural therapy as follows:
- “any form of psychotherapy that takes into account not only the racial and ethnic diversity of clients but also their diversity in spirituality, sexual orientation, ability and disability, and social class and socioeconomic status; the potential cultural bias (e.g., racism, sexism) of the practitioner; the history of oppressed and marginalized groups; acculturation issues for immigrant clients; and the politics of power as they affect clients.
- any form of therapy that assesses, understands, and evaluates a client’s behavior in the multiplicity of cultural contexts (e.g., ethnic, national, demographic, social, economic) in which that behavior was learned and is displayed.”
What is an example of a cross-cultural approach?
A cross-cultural approach in professional psychology takes into account the similarities and differences between individuals from various cultures. This is not only helpful for individual therapy but also holds importance for couples and family therapy.
As not every client comes from the area’s dominant culture, cross-cultural psychology requires the therapist to consider the influence of the client’s identity and culture on their mental health. The attitudes of a client’s society toward mental health may shape their beliefs and challenges. Multicultural competency based on such factors tends to be crucial for professionals to develop a healthy therapeutic alliance with clients who aren’t from the same culture.
What is an example of multicultural counseling?
It’s crucial for therapists to familiarize themselves with each client’s culture so they can avoid being culturally insensitive and help the client feel comfortable and understood. For instance, the average American psychologist may only be familiar with Western culture, but they may need to figuratively step outside of their own communities. This can enable them to learn about the cultural norms of certain cultures, depending on their clients’ backgrounds, and better understand their clients’ lives. To cultivate a healthy therapy relationship, it can be vital for the mental health professional to have self-awareness, recognize their own biases, and learn about norms related to personal space, body language, non-verbal communication, gender identity, and more.
What are the three practices of multicultural counseling?
The three elements of multicultural counseling or transcultural psychiatry include cultural awareness and understanding, cultural self-reflection, and the removal of cross-cultural barriers. Implementing these elements into the therapeutic process while integrating evidence-based practice techniques often contributes to positive experiences. For additional resources, explore the International Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development.
What do cross-cultural psychologists do?
Cross-cultural psychologists use their understanding of their own culture and the particular culture embodied by each of their clients to inform their viewpoint of the world and their approach to counseling. A cross-cultural approach can ensure that people from different races and minority groups can benefit from evidence-based interventions tailored to their background, whether that means using cognitive behavioral therapy, a strength-based approach like positive psychology, or another modality.
- Previous Article
- Next Article