Black History Month and Culturally Sensitive Therapy
“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” —Ola Joseph
February marks the celebration of Black History Month, and it seems only right to bring awareness to the importance of cultural competency and sensitivity in the mental health field.
As I often like to say, “the human experience is a beautiful, yet messy, one with each individual’s life having its unique set of experiences, values, and cultural markers that help us to identify and understand our place/purpose in the world. We must recognize, empathize, learn, and take into consideration how each individual is shaped by their experiences and do our best to honor them in all their humanness, simply by being with them.”
When studying to become a licensed therapist, one of the integral components we are taught is that of cultural sensitivity and cultural competence. Simply put, culturally sensitive therapy is that which emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client’s background and belief system as it relates to their ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other important elements that make up someone’s culture and/or identity. It is such a critical component, not only to the therapist and client relationship, but to relationships in the real world as well.
Being culturally sensitive is being empathetic, understanding, open, and respectful to different opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures, and different types of people. The therapeutic relationship, and therefore successful therapy outcomes, rest heavily on the opportunity to create a space where each individual’s experience and cultural lived experience is seen, valued and respected, especially for BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) who may carry a stigma around accessing/engaging in mental health services.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “Black American adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness and feeling like everything is an effort.” However, “Despite the needs, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it.”
For many, up until recent years, the discussion of mental health and seeking support through counseling/therapy has been an anxiety provoking one; for some, accessing support may come with shame or be seen as a sign of weakness, deterring them from mental health services altogether.
Due to the historical negligence and prejudice in the health care systems, BIPOC have a distrust in finding care for their needs that is also culturally considerate. “Provider bias, both conscious and unconscious, and a lack of cultural competency can result in misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. This ultimately can lead to mistrust of mental health professionals and create a barrier for many to engage in treatment” (NAMI).
Fortunately, the discussions around mental health have been improving and have become more open/welcomed; African-American mental health providers have taken initiative to change the narrative surrounding mental health and ways to access/connect with either a BIPOC therapist or creating tools for those to use to find a culturally sensitive therapist that fits their needs.
Below are some tips any client can use when trying to find the “right fit” for a therapist. Remember, finding a therapist can be a lot like dating, you may need to “date” around before finding the right therapist for you; Don’t get discouraged!
Pro Tip: It’s okay if the therapist isn't the right fit! Everybody isn’t meant for everybody! I promise you can let the therapist know that, too! They would love to help refer you to someone who may better support your needs.
Questions you can ask the therapist for cultural competency/consideration:
What is your experience when it comes to working with ________ (ex. BIPOC, immigrant populations, LGBTQ, etc.)
Have you treated other ___ (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, etc) individuals/couples? Or, Have you received additional training in cultural competence for mental health?
How do you plan to provide me with culturally sensitive, client-centered care?
How do you see our cultural backgrounds (meaning both therapist and client) influencing communication and my treatment?
How do you work with clients who have experienced racism, discrimination, or other cultural concerns?
What is your comfort level when it comes to talking about topics such as white privilege, racism, discrimination, or systemic oppression?
Upon receiving answers to the questions above, the next, and important, part of the process would be to ask yourself questions about the provider’s responses: “Was I treated with respect?”, “Is the provider able to incorporate my cultural values into my treatment plan?”, “Do I feel like my provider understands and relates well with me?” Answering yes to any or all of these questions means you are off to a great start in developing a strong therapeutic alliance and relationship that will help support you through your journey towards healing, self-discovery, and personal growth.
Aimee Moore, APCC has completed cultural competency training including: Relias: Cultural Competence and Relias: Understanding and Addressing Racial Trauma in Behavioral Health and will continue to make cultural training a priority in her work. Aimee, and all Roubicek and Thacker staff, are committed to maintaining and creating a therapy space where all feel welcome, heard, understood, and valued.
Roubicek & Thacker Counseling is Fresno’s premier provider of individual, couples, family, and group therapy. We offer in-person and online remote therapy sessions. Contact us today to change the way you feel.