5 Ways to be a Culturally Responsive Therapist - Mental Health Match (2024)

By: Dr. Jessica Jackson

The death of George Floyd has brought discussions of racism to the forefront of America, and ultimately into the therapy room. For many clinicians, discussions of racism, discrimination, and/or the role that race plays in our daily lives has come up in therapy sessions. If it hasn’t happened yet, it will.

Our clients do not live in bubbles and are not exempt from the current social and political climate, especially people of color. Sue & Sue (2012) put it best, “…counseling and psychotherapy do not take place in a vacuum, isolated from the larger sociopolitical influences of our societal climate” (pg. 91).

I’ve received many questions and took part in many discussions with colleagues about how to help BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) clients, specifically Black clients. My answer: practice cultural humility and culturally responsive therapy.

Moving beyond cultural competence to cultural humility and responsiveness

Cultural competence is a phrase I am sure has popped up in recent discussions you’ve had with your colleagues. For many of us, cultural competence is what was taught in graduate school. It was the standard for discussions of diversity for years in psychology. Cultural competence was a term that came into prominence in the early 1980s thanks to Derald Wing Sue. Culture competence is model of developing skills, knowledge and self-awareness to be more effective in working with diverse populations. While cultural competence is an important start; I encourage you to think and reflect deeper.

The American Psychological Association Race & Ethnicity guidelines and increased multicultural emphasis in training programs have helped the field of psychology evolve beyond just possession of knowledge and skills of other cultures — moving from a way of doing to a way of being. More and more we recognize that our cultural identity and that of our client are both salient aspects of the therapy dynamic (American Psychological Association (2003). Cultural humility and cultural responsivity are building blocks to understanding our clients and the cultural context that shapes their distress, building blocks that help us provide needed support on a deeper level.

Davis et al. (2011) breaks down humility into intrapersonal humility and interpersonal humility. To practice cultural humility, we must have both an accurate view of ourselves and respect for others without an attitude of supremacy or superiority.

Cultural humility is a continuum of:

  1. Inward self-awareness,
  2. Outward valuing of others and
  3. Upward growth. (Hook et al. 2013).

Culturally responsive therapy is responding to and making room for the client’s culture in the therapeutic process. This may look like:

  • Asking questions about their family’s cultural background and beliefs,
  • Asking about their use of emotional expression, and
  • Learning their perspective of their symptoms, even if it’s unrelated to the presenting problem.

As therapists, we cannot be culturally responsive if we have not first worked on developing cultural humility.

Developing cultural humility: the pre-work

Cultural humility is a mind-set shift and a career-long commitment. For those looking to get started on this journey, here are three skills you can begin working on. I call this the pre-work, the work that should happen on your own time before you enter the therapy room.:

  1. Self-awareness – Engage in self-reflection and self-understanding to develop an accurate view of self. Take the time to reflect on how your different social identities (e.g. religion, sexuality, generation, acculturation, socioeconomic status, education, ethnicity etc.) have influenced your worldview. Engage in reading, dialogues, workshops etc. that help you have a better understanding of your privileges, biases and values.
  2. Valuing of others – Be curious! Demonstrate a willingness to learn from others around you (e.g. colleagues, clients, friends etc.) and respond from a place of genuineness and authenticity. It’s okay to not know everything, in fact, admitting ignorance and asking questions is a cornerstone of humility. A caveat to this point is to be careful that you are not placing the responsibility on clients to teach you about their culture. There is a difference between asking someone to teach you about racism and asking to learn their experience of racism. Finding the balance is necessary.
  3. Growth – Remember, practicing cultural humility is a process. This is not a skill that we build overnight, but a continuum of continuing learning throughout our careers as clinicians. Push through discomfort and anxiety related to cultural conversations and enter conversations acknowledging that you may not feel your best throughout the conversation.

How to be a culturally responsive therapist

Once we have engaged in the pre-work, we can then focus on building on our increased self-awareness to foster empathy for clients. Culturally responsive therapy requires this empathy to truly understand and conceptualize how the client’s social identities interact and influence the client’s perception of their distress.

I have outlined five tips for doing culturally responsive work in the therapy room:

  1. One-size doesn’t fit all – Be mindful of how client’s social identities interact to make them unique. Appreciate individual differences and approach clients with an understanding of and respect for the client’s needs and cultural values. Be open-minded and recognize that there are multiple ways of viewing the world.
  2. Consider how your values, worldview, upbringing, etc. may influence your client’s perception of, rapport with, or trust in you. – Conceptualization and diagnosis often go hand in hand. Consider how your client’s behaviors and decisions may be guided by their cultural values and beliefs.
  3. Ask yourself, are you being tolerant, inclusive or integrative? – Consider culture at each step of the appointment, from advertising for clients to the termination session with a client. Tolerance is acknowledging there are differences between you and your client. Inclusivity is asking them their social identities and cultural background and considering it in your conceptualization. Integration is all of the above and having office décor reflective of different cultures or having intake forms/screeners in multiple languages. The goal in culturally responsive therapy is demonstrating integration. Georgetown University’s National Center for Cultural Competency has a checklist available to self-assess the inclusiveness of your practice.
  4. Acknowledge what is happening in the world outside of the therapy room – Even if your client does not bring it up, it’s okay to open the door for the discussion. They may be waiting to see if you’re comfortable bringing up a certain topic (e.g. racism, police brutality etc.). Asking a client how they are holding up with everything happening this week (note what’s been in the news or all-over social media etc.) is a general way to make it clear you are open to the conversation. Keep in mind, acknowledging a topic does not mean that it has to be the focus of treatment, but could be helpful in establishing rapport.
  5. Don’t make assumptions – Ask clients how they identify. Don’t assume, based on your client’s outward appearance, that they don’t want to discuss certain topics OR that they relate to specific topics. We all have fallen prey to stereotyping. Work on being intentional about not generalizing based on prior knowledge or prior experience with similar clients. For example, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, some Black American clients may be more focused on grief or financial concerns than racism. That’s not to say racism may not be important to them but may not be what’s most affecting them in session. In this case acknowledging the racism that is occurring may help the client feel more comfortable addressing the other concerns.

Barriers to being a culturally responsive therapist

As you practice these skills, be mindful of common barriers that may get in our way:

  1. Fear
  2. Lack of preparedness for emotionally charged conversations
  3. Feelings of inadequacy
  4. Politeness protocol, and
  5. Colorblindness.

For example, fear of saying the wrong thing often goes along with feeling incompetent, especially when addressing a topic, you don’t normally discuss. It’s okay to name this anxiety in the therapy room, as long as the intention is to communicate, “I might get this wrong, but I’m willing to take the risk to create a necessary space for my client.” What is not okay is not doing the self-work or preparing for the discussion and expecting the client to educate you in session.

It’s helpful to give yourself time before the session to prepare and reflect on what you want to say. Jumping into this conversation without thoughtfulness or intentionality could disrupt the rapport, the opposite of the goal.

Lastly, I challenge you to push past colorblindness and politeness protocol. Telling a client that you do not see color is essentially telling them that you do not see the totality of who they are. It is not polite, it not good etiquette, it is not a compliment. If you feel the pull to tell a client you do not see color, I encourage you to pause and reflect on why that may feel safer for you.

We all make mistakes. Even when we have the best of intentions to support our client’s and meet them where they are, we can still get in our own way. There is simply no way to know it all, but we can communicate to our clients that we’re ready to listen and meet them where they are to support them.

Remember, cultural humility is being comfortable admitting what we don’t know. Leaning into this uncomfortableness has the potential to lead to deeper, richer connections with clients; making it well worth the effort.

Dr. Jessica Jackson is a counseling psychologist with a private practice in Houston, TX. She has provided mental health services in correctional facilities, university counseling centers, high schools and healthcare settings.

Jessica is a 2019 recipient of Society of Counseling Psychology, Section for Ethnic & Racial Diversity Outstanding Service to Diverse/Underserved Communities Award. Jessica is an alumna of the APA Council of National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests (CNPAAEMI) Leadership Development Institute Fellow.

As a practitioner-scientist -advocate, her research focus has primarily centered around barriers to outpatient treatment, culturally competent clinical practice, race-related stress and racial trauma.

Connect with Dr. Jackson on Twitter, Instagram, or her website: www.drjlauren.com.

5 Ways to be a Culturally Responsive Therapist - Mental Health Match (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 principles of a culturally competent organizational model? ›

Have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge, and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of communities they serve.

What are five actions you can take to understand diverse client cultures? ›

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  • Overcome Language Barriers. ...
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15 Jan 2022

What are 4 strategies that support cultural competence? ›

How do I become culturally competent?
  • Learn about yourself. Get started by exploring your own historical roots, beliefs and values, says Robert C. ...
  • Learn about different cultures. ...
  • Interact with diverse groups. ...
  • Attend diversity-focused conferences. ...
  • Lobby your department.

What does it mean to be a culturally competent therapist? ›

Culturally competent counselors are accurately aware of culturally learned assumptions by themselves and their clients, comprehend the culturally relevant facts and information about a client' culture and are able to intervene skillfully to bring about positive change through counseling.

What are the 5 cultural competence? ›

Contained within this guide is a walkthrough of the five building blocks of cultural competence: open attitude, self-awareness, awareness of others, cultural knowledge, and cultural skills.

What are the 5 stages of cultural competence? ›

Have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge, and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of communities they serve.

What are five points of cultural diversity in healthcare? ›

In her model, Campinha-Bacote describes five interrelated concepts: (1) cultural awareness, (2) cultural knowledge, (3) cultural skill, (4) cultural encounters, and (5) cultural desire.

What are 3 examples of strategies to help improve culturally competent care? ›

WHAT IS CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HEALTH CARE?
  • Provide interpreter services.
  • Recruit and retain minority staff.
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  • Coordinate with traditional healers.
  • Use community health workers.
  • Incorporate culture-specific attitudes and values into health promotion tools.

What are the 4 elements of cultural competence? ›

Cultural competence is comprised of four components: (a) Awareness of one's own cultural worldview, (b) Attitude towards cultural differences, (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and; (d) Cross cultural Skills.

What is an example of cultural competence in healthcare? ›

Examples of Cultural Competence in Nursing

Speaking in terms that are easy for the patient to follow and understand. Not judging or disregarding a patient's belief and religious background, but encouraging them to do what works best for them. Empathizing with the patient at all times.

What are some examples of cultural competence? ›

For example, educators who respect diversity and are culturally competent: have an understanding of, and honour, the histories, cultures, languages, traditions, child rearing practices. value children's different capacities and abilities. respect differences in families' home lives.

How do I become more culturally competent in healthcare? ›

Becoming a Culturally Competent Health Care Organization
  1. Collect race, ethnicity and language preference (REAL) data.
  2. Identify and report disparities.
  3. Provide culturally and linguistically competent care.
  4. Develop culturally competent disease management programs.
  5. Increase diversity and minority workforce pipelines.

How can a therapist be culturally competent? ›

Cultural Competence

A culturally competent therapist should recognize and respect the beliefs, perspectives, and values of clients from a particular race, ethnicity, or region. A culturally sensitive therapist should be confident in their knowledge and skills.

What are the main characteristics of the culturally skilled counselor? ›

Culturally skilled counselors are aware of and work to eliminate biases, prejudices, and discriminatory practices. They are aware of sociopolitical contexts in conducting evaluation and providing interventions and are sensitive to issues of oppression, sexism, elitism, and racism.

Why is it important for therapists to be culturally competent? ›

Incorporating cultural competency and cultural sensitivity into mental health services enables therapists to accommodate and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of minoritized people, such as communities of color and LGBTQ communities.

What 4 factors affect cultural sensitivity? ›

Certain factors can affect cultural sensitivity. These factors include religion, ethnicity(race), national origin(language), or gender.

What are the five components of the asked cultural competence Questions? ›

Cultural competemility is defined as the synergistic process between cultural humility and cultural competence in which cultural humility permeates the five components of cultural competence: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural desire, and cultural encounters.

What are the five constructs of cultural competence quizlet? ›

model has five constructs of cultural competency: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounter, and cultural desire (Campinha-Bacote, 2002a - Permission required to use this resource).

What are the five steps to developing cross cultural awareness? ›

The five fundamentals of effective cross-cultural communication
  1. Awareness. It all starts with this: being aware that different countries have different ways and times of doing things. ...
  2. Preparation. ...
  3. Language. ...
  4. Humour. ...
  5. Openness.

WHO identified five levels of cultural awareness? ›

Culhane-Perea et al1, describes five levels of cultural competence with respect to health care.

What skills do you need for cultural competence? ›

Overall, cultural competence has three important components: active listening, demonstrating empathy, and effective engagement.

How do you address cultural diversity in healthcare? ›

A review of culturally competent healthcare industry systems identified 5 interventions to improve cultural competence: (1) gear programs to recruit and retain diverse staff members, (2) cultural competency training for healthcare providers, (3) use of interpreter services to ensure individuals from different ...

Why is cultural sensitivity important in healthcare? ›

Cultural competence significantly benefits healthcare organizations and patients alike. It results in more patient participation and engagement, fostering respect and improved understanding, which can lead to: Increased patient safety.

What are the 4 forms of intercultural communication? ›

The basic principles of intercultural communication are as follows.
  • 4.1. Language, culture, linguaculture. ...
  • 4.2. Intercultural Mediation. ...
  • 4.3. Channels of communication.
  • 4.4. Subconscious elements in communicative behaviour.

What are the 3 three principles that are required of you to be culturally competent within your work space and or personal environment? ›

These attributes will guide you in developing cultural competence: Self-knowledge and awareness about one's own culture. Awareness of one's own cultural worldview. Experience and knowledge of different cultural practices.

How do you show cultural awareness? ›

Use these tips from the American Psychological Association to be more culturally aware:
  1. Think beyond race and ethnicity. A person's culture is shaped by more than the color of their skin or the way that they dress. ...
  2. Learn by asking. ...
  3. Make local connections. ...
  4. Pay attention to non-verbal behaviors. ...
  5. Exchange stories.
22 Jul 2019

What strategies could you implement to develop cultural responsiveness? ›

15 Culturally-Responsive Teaching Strategies and Examples
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  • Interview Students. ...
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  • Bring in Guest Speakers. ...
  • Deliver Different Forms of Content through Learning Stations. ...
  • Gamify Lessons. ...
  • Call on Each Student.
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What are some ways that you can achieve cultural competence at work? ›

Tips for improving cultural competence in the workplace
  • Train for global citizenship.
  • Practice communication skills.
  • Practice good manners.
  • Encourage discussion.
  • Build teamwork.
  • Practice listening.

What is the first step of cultural competence? ›

Developing cultural awareness is often the first step in working with young people and families. This involves learning about the cultural norms, values, beliefs and practices of the CLD communities that your agency services.

How can cultural barriers to health care be overcome? ›

Interpreting Nonverbal Cues
  1. Ask questions that demonstrate respect and concern.
  2. Ask questions that help reveal the patient's understanding of the health issue at hand.
  3. Explain their own perceptions.
  4. Acknowledge differences in perceptions.
  5. Begin to negotiate treatment plans.

What is cultural competence in simple terms? ›

Cultural competence — loosely defined as the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one's own — has been a key aspect of psychological thinking and practice for some 50 years.

What does cultural competence mean for healthcare providers? ›

Culturally competent care is defined as care that respects diversity in the patient population and cultural factors that can affect health and health care, such as language, communication styles, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. 1.

How do you know if you are culturally competent? ›

Cultural competence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with people from other cultures. To have multicultural competence, you need: A basic understanding of your own culture. (It's difficult to understand another's culture if you aren't familiar with your own.)

What is an essential component of cultural competence for healthcare workers? ›

Showing respect for your patients' cultural, spiritual, and psychosocial values demonstrates cultural competency. 1 Cultural competency enables healthcare workers to understand their patient's expectations about the care, treatment, and services they receive.

What counts as cultural competency training? ›

Cultural competence training for health care professionals focuses on skills and knowledge that value diversity, understand and respond to cultural differences, and increase awareness of providers' and care organizations' cultural norms.

What does it mean to be a culturally responsive therapist? ›

Culturally sensitive therapy emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client's background, ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into their work to accommodate and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people.

How do you incorporate culture in therapy? ›

Appreciate individual differences and approach clients with an understanding of and respect for the client's needs and cultural values. Be open-minded and recognize that there are multiple ways of viewing the world. Consider how your values, worldview, upbringing, etc.

What can a therapist do to increase inclusivity in their practice? ›

Six Tips for Therapists to Be More Queer and Trans Inclusive in Their Practice
  1. Educate yourself. Do you know the terms you should be using? ...
  2. Identify your blocks. ...
  3. Find local resources. ...
  4. Add pronouns to your website. ...
  5. De-gender your conversation. ...
  6. Reflect on your practice environment as a whole.
28 Sept 2021

What does it mean to be culturally competent counselor? ›

Culturally competent counselors: • Are aware of their own cultural groups and of their. values, assumptions, and biases regarding other cultural groups. • Strive to understand how these factors affect their. ability to provide culturally effective services to clients.

What is cultural context in Counselling? ›

Counseling, like all behaviors, takes place in a cultural context. Cultural. differencesoccurnot only between societies, but also within societies where. ethnicity, gender, social class, and other subcultures interact. Understanding.

How does cultural diversity relate to counseling? ›

People from different cultural backgrounds often have very different lived realities. These differences influence not only the types of mental health issues that a person experiences but also their perception of and relationship to counseling.

What is cultural competence in mental health? ›

Cultural competency means that, as a provider, you are able to interact effectively with people of different cultures, by incorporating their unique beliefs, behaviors, and needs into their diagnosis and treatment plan.

Why is it important for mental health professionals to become familiar with the cultural background of their clients? ›

Race, ethnicity, and cultural background may influence a client's identity and life circ*mstances. Other factors, such as gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, religion, and ability may also play into the context of a given client's mental health, and relational or personal issues.

How do you deal with culturally diverse clients? ›

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  1. Know your clientele. Spend time talking with clients to learn about where they are from. ...
  2. Seek out culture-specific knowledge of your customers. ...
  3. Recognize patterns for communicating. ...
  4. Attract diverse customers by having a diverse workforce. ...
  5. Build relationships.
21 Jun 2012

What are the 4 types of organizational culture? ›

They identified 4 types of culture – clan culture, adhocracy culture, market culture, and hierarchy culture.

What is organizational culture in principles of management? ›

An organization's culture defines the proper way to behave within the organization. This culture consists of shared beliefs and values established by leaders and then communicated and reinforced through various methods, ultimately shaping employee perceptions, behaviors and understanding.

What are cultural principles? ›

With honesty, compassion and candor, Culture Principles will guide and challenge individual leaders, teams and organizations to question systems, bring inequities to light, dismantle what's not working, and reconstruct frameworks to center racial equity.

What are the key levels for creating a culture? ›

One of the basic tenets of culture is that it consists of levels and sublevels. It is useful to think about culture in terms of five basic levels: national, regional, organizational, team, and individual. Within each of these levels are tangible and intangible sublevels of culture.

What is values in culture? ›

Cultural values are the core principles and ideals upon which an entire community exists. This is made up of several parts: customs, which are traditions and rituals; values, which are beliefs; and culture, which is all of a group's guiding values.

What 3 words describe the culture of a company? ›

Common Words to Describe Company Culture
  • Agile.
  • Collaborative.
  • Fast-paced.
  • Flexible.
  • Inclusive.
  • Passionate.
7 Jun 2022

What are three workplace culture examples? ›

Here are examples of the values that companies often prioritize:
  • Respect and fairness.
  • Trust and integrity.
  • Growth mindset.
  • Teamwork.
  • Employee engagement and opportunities for advancement.
  • Communication and transparency.
  • Diversity.
  • Results.
17 Feb 2022

What are the 6 types of organisational cultures? ›

6 Types of Corporate Culture (And Why They Work)
  • Empowered Culture.
  • Culture of Innovation.
  • Sales Culture.
  • Customer-Centric Culture.
  • Culture of Leadership Excellence.
  • Culture of Safety.

What is positive work culture? ›

What is a positive work culture? Simply put, a positive work culture is one that prioritizes the well-being of employees, offers support at all levels within the organization, and has policies in place that encourage respect, trust, empathy, and support.

How do you improve work culture? ›

7 Powerful Practices to Improve Workplace Culture
  1. Build strong employee relationships. ...
  2. Connect people to a purpose. ...
  3. Encourage frequent employee recognition. ...
  4. Create positive employee experiences. ...
  5. Open up transparency and communication. ...
  6. Give teams the autonomy they seek. ...
  7. Schedule regular and meaningful one-to-ones.

Why is quality culture important? ›

What are the benefits of quality culture? Organizations that foster development of a quality culture usually experience less employee frustration, less employee turnover, and more successful regulatory inspections.

How do you drive culture in an organization? ›

5 Tips for Driving Culture in Your Business
  1. Focus on recruitment and onboarding. Driving culture starts with your people. ...
  2. Foster a meaningful employee experience. ...
  3. Communicate with your team transparently. ...
  4. Promote experimentation across your teams. ...
  5. Measure and adapt your culture.
3 Jul 2018

What is a strong organizational culture? ›

A strong culture is one which is deeply embedded into the ways a business or organisation does things. With a strong culture, employees and management understand what is required of them and they will try to act in accordance with the core values.

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