Values, Beliefs, And Mental Health: The Importance Of Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Cultural background, identity, and mental health are closely linked. The ways in which we behave, interact with others, and think about the world and ourselves are influenced by our personal experiences, beliefs, values, and the many other parts of who we are.
Culturally sensitive therapy refers to mental health treatment which recognizes that an individual’s background and identity can impact the way that care should be provided to them. Conducting therapy in an inclusive manner can help ensure that individuals belonging to diverse groups are supported in the best way possible. Here, we’re discussing culturally sensitive therapy: how it works, its benefits, and how you can find a culturally competent therapist.
What is culturally sensitive therapy?
Culturally sensitive therapy is an approach to mental health care that accounts for and accommodates individual differences in ethnicity, religious beliefs, values, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other identities. Also called culturally competent therapy, culturally sensitive therapy recognizes that both the therapist and the client have unique backgrounds that inform the way they participate in treatment.
Cultural sensitivity involves providing mental health services in an inclusive manner. This could mean conducting sessions in a client’s native language, providing alternative modalities, incorporating certain beliefs into care, or placing offices in underserved communities. It can also involve healthcare providers approaching clients in a way that acknowledges the complex histories and modern realities of individuals with various marginalized identities without making assumptions about a person based solely on their identity.
The need for culturally sensitive therapy
For decades, mental health professionals primarily viewed psychological challenges through a limited lens. Often, the experiences of women, ethnic and racial minorities, sexual and gender minorities, and other marginalized groups were not taken into consideration or were explicitly excluded. This meant that those in the mental health field developed treatment methods, conducted research, and provided care in ways that weren’t often optimized for diverse groups or reflective of real-life diversity of experiences.
For example, ethnic minorities have historically been excluded from clinical trials and other forms of research, and the same has been true of women overall. As researchers state in one study, there exists a “continuous lack of women research participants in clinical trials.” Because of these disparities, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has instituted policies meant to foster inclusivity in clinical research. However, historic underrepresentation had already created gaps in professionals’ understanding of how psychological concerns impact different groups, which continue to contribute to disparities in care.
Cultural background, beliefs, and mental health
Mental health experts agree that psychological concerns can arise due to a complex mix of factors, including genetics, environmental contributors, biological differences, and social influences. These contributors—particularly the societal factors—often have strong cultural components.
For example, experiences of discrimination and socioeconomic status are factors that can contribute significantly to the development of certain disorders. This relationship suggests that culture—particularly how people of marginalized cultures are treated in society—can play a key role in how we understand and address mental health challenges.
How differences in culture can affect mental health
Mental health concerns are more prevalent in certain marginalized communities due to systemic barriers and lived experiences of discrimination and other trauma. For instance, it’s estimated that 39% of LGBTQ+ individuals live with a mental health disorder, a rate far higher than that of the general population. Again, the risk of challenges like discrimination, stigma, and abuse are increased among those in the LGBTQ+ community, and they can be even higher among LGBTQ+ individuals who are young or part of another marginalized group.
Research also suggests that cultural elements can impact the way diverse groups utilize mental health care. For example, one study suggests that Black and Latine individuals seek mental health support from religious leaders at higher rates than white individuals. While cultural factors may play a role, this effect may also be due in large part to systemic barriers to receiving healthcare and distrust of the healthcare system due to its legacy of discrimination and harm to communities of color.
Additionally, cultural variations can influence people’s views on the origins, or even the existence, of mental illness. For example, people who practice certain religions may not agree that mental health conditions can have at least a partially biological basis.
Finally, different groups might talk about mental health challenges in varying ways. For example, researchers suggest that individuals from some Asian cultures, when seeking psychological care, tend to focus on their physical symptoms—at times avoiding discussing emotional symptoms until further asked about them.
Accounting for culture in the therapeutic relationship
Studies suggest that cultural competence can help create a more trusting and collaborative therapeutic relationship, which can be critical for quality care. With an understanding of the above-mentioned types of cultural differences, therapists and other professionals may be able to provide support that is as thorough, compassionate, and effective as possible.
How providers consider cultural background while providing care
There are numerous ways mental health professionals can conduct therapy while remaining cognizant of how cultural factors can impact diverse populations. To start, a mental health practitioner can foster cultural competency by ensuring treatment is personalized, tailoring the techniques and overall modalities that they use to each individual participant. This can help therapists avoid relying on approaches that may not have been created with people of diverse cultural backgrounds in mind as well as helping them avoid making assumptions about an individual based solely on their cultural background.
Another primary way of honoring an individual’s cultural differences is by encouraging participants to discuss these topics openly. Learning about a client’s personal experiences and how their cultural background and lived experiences have shaped them can help a therapist understand which treatment approaches might be most effective.
Therapists can also incorporate cultural sensitivity into their approach through their communication styles. This can mean speaking in a client’s native language if applicable, making a referral to a provider who speaks that language if that’s what the client wants, or providing resources that are in that language. It can also mean using affirming terms—for example, using gender-neutral language for someone who identifies as non-binary.
The effectiveness of culturally sensitive therapy
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that culturally sensitive therapy has numerous potential benefits for participants. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have suggested that tailoring interventions to ensure cultural sensitivity can lead to significant positive mental health effects. Research also indicates that such approaches may lead to greater adherence, improved client satisfaction, and improved treatment outcomes.
Studies also support the efficacy of various individual modifications and techniques. There is evidence to suggest that language-based changes can be effective, as can location-based alterations (e.g., providing treatment from home). Involving family members in therapy has also been suggested to improve outcomes in some cases.
Tips to keep in mind when searching for a culturally competent therapist
If you’re interested in working with a culturally sensitive therapist, there are several considerations to keep in mind. Below are a few of these.
Consider a professional who shares your background, beliefs or values
Working with a therapist whose background mirrors one’s own in certain ways may help increase the likelihood that treatment will be sensitive to one’s unique lived experiences. For example, individuals in certain groups—such those who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and/or LGBTQ+—might prefer to connect with a therapist who is a member of the same community. You may feel that someone who has similar life experiences will be best positioned to support you. Or, you might find that looking for a therapist with specific training and experience working with individuals in your community may suffice.
Evaluate other aspects of the therapeutic relationship
While cultural considerations can be highly important during therapy, there are also several other crucial components. Your comfort level overall, for example, can be vital to successful sessions. You may also want to ensure that the therapist’s area of focus aligns with your concerns. For example, a trauma-informed therapist may provide the most effective care if you’re living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, you might consider whether you want to work with a professional in person or online.
How online therapy can help
It isn’t always easy to find professionals whose experiences or competencies align with your concerns. If you’d like to get matched with a therapist who can utilize culturally competent approaches, you might consider participating in online therapy.
The benefits of participating in culturally sensitive therapy online
With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist based on your preferences—which may include expertise in specific mental health concerns or experience supporting various groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities or the LGBTQ+ community. Online therapy is also typically a more affordable option than in-person therapy without insurance.
The efficacy of online therapy
There is evidence to indicate that online therapy platforms may help facilitate culturally sensitive mental health treatment. In one study, for instance, researchers suggest that a culturally adapted online therapy program led to significant reductions in symptoms of depression—results which were sustained at a three-month follow-up. The study, which involved college students in Colombia, mentions the ways in which conditions like depression can impact individuals differently based on certain demographic characteristics (in this case, age and country of origin).
Takeaway
What are examples of culturally sensitive interventions?
Culturally sensitive interventions in terms of the therapeutic process typically include cultural responsiveness as part of effective treatment. This means respecting a client's cultural context and a client's cultural beliefs and using research-based cultural sensitivity practices to provide effective mental healthcare.
What are the four C's of culturally sensitive care?
There are a few different versions of the four Cs of culturally sensitive care. One definition is culture, cooperation, communication, and competence. These are all key attributes of what make culturally sensitive therapy important and effective and are commonly covered in therapist training programs. Keeping these in mind in practice, after training, can help a provider maintain cultural competence in the care they offer.
How do you practice cultural sensitivity?
Cultural sensitivity typically involves respecting cultural beliefs, cultural identity, cultural heritage, and cultural norms when working with culturally diverse populations. When therapists formulate treatment with cultural sensitivity in mind, it may help them view mental health differently and promote positive mental health outcomes for clients of diverse backgrounds. Receiving specifical cultural competency training may be required in order for a clinician to develop this skill set.
What are culturally responsive strategies in therapy?
Culturally responsive strategies are those that are respectful of diverse cultural norms and take these into account when devising treatment plans. Such strategies can empower clinicians to provide more effective mental health care and more holistically promote each client’s well-being.
What are 2 barriers to providing culturally sensitive care?
One common barrier to providing culturally sensitive care is a lack of specific training in this area. Another is prejudiced notions about people of certain groups.
How to promote positive mental health amongst different cultural groups?
Promoting positive mental health amongst different cultural groups usually involves making culturally competent care available to them. This type of care takes into account diverse cultural beliefs so each client can feel understood and supported in a therapy setting.
Is EMDR culturally sensitive?
In general, most therapy modalities can be practiced in a culturally sensitive way if the clinician has the right training. When it comes to EMDR, a provider who is informed on and sensitive to the individual client’s cultural background may be able to provide the best care.
How to address diversity in counselling?
It's widely been reported that there is not enough diversity in the mental health field. One way to address this is to reduce financial barriers to education, which may allow more individuals from socioeconomically marginalized groups to be able to pursue this type of career path.
What is an example of culturally sensitive therapy?
An example of culturally sensitive therapy is a provider approaching a client's situation with the lens of the client's cultural background. This can help the client feel understood and may equip the clinician to provide more accurate and helpful guidance.
What are cultural issues in mental health?
One of the key issues related to culture in the mental health field is a lack of diversity among mental health providers. Giving more individuals from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to train as mental health professionals by reducing systemic barriers could help address this issue.
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