561 - Culture Issues in Psych Practice Flashcards
acculturation
WHERE: culture issues in psych practice
WHAT: The process by which groups/a person changes their social and cultural values from their original cultural to align with a different culture (usually a mainstream on)
- AKA integrating the dominant culture into your own
- can create stress/conflict if there are differences in acculturation within a family or relationship
- bidirectional relationship
WHY: Different levels of acculturation affects how clients perceive and respond to the therapist. It is important to keep this in mind when creating a treatment plan. To increase efficacy of treatment and strength the therapeutic relationship, the therapist may alter their approached to align with the clients cultural values and norms.
EXAMPLE: A 30-year-old client had recently moved to the US from Japan. She speaks some English, but struggles with cultural differences and feels lonely. The therapist addresses things with the woman such as cultural stress and finding her a social support group.
ADDRESSING model
WHERE: cultural issues in psychological practice
WHAT: Helps to fully understand a client. Helpful to see in what way the client may be in a marginalized group.
A- age
D- disability at birth
D- disability acquirred
R- religion
E- ethnicity
S- sexual orientation
S- socioeconomic status
I- indigenous heritage
N- nation of origin
G- gender
WHY: This model allows for the therapist to consider a range of culture factors that influence a client’s identity and their experiences. It aids in creating relevant and effective treatment goals.
EXAMPLE: Dahlia is an 18 year old with no disabilities, she is Buddhist, Indian, a lesbian, upper class, no indigenous heritage, was born in the USA, and is a CIS gendered girl. The therapist will gather information about how aspects of her identity may be influencing her presenting problems.
anti-racism
WHERE: cultural issues in psychological practice
WHAT: Involves actively working against the racist attitudes ingrained within society by working towards change and being a social justice warrior.
Apart of developing a multicultural attitude surrounding societal change.
WHY: A therapist having an anti-racist attitude means they are advocates for minority groups and they address systemic injustices that prevent growth and development of clients.
EXAMPLE: A therapist may validate and reassure a client that feels they were a victim of racism. They may reinforce the fact that racism is real, and it can have a real effect on one’s mental health. Outside of sessions, the therapist may participate in BLM protests to advocate, empower, and work against systems of oppressions.
assimilation
WHERE: cultural issues in psychological practice
WHAT: The process of a person adopting a new culture’s beliefs and practices and lose their original features/culture
- individuals/groups of a foreign culture are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society
- common among immigrant populations that seek to blend into society– want to belong
WHY: Clients who are assimilating into a new culture may face unique challenges, such as identity conflict and social isolation. Adopting new norms and practices can cause stress. Therapists may also help clients find a balance between their native culture and the new culture to help clients stay authentic while also fitting into their new environment.
EXAMPLE: A client immigrated to the USA from Egypt when he was a child. Now, as a teen, he is seeking therapy due to assimilation conflicts with his family. He has fully assimilated to US culture and has rejected/forgotten must of his native culture (the language, the customs, etc.). His parents only speak Arabic at home and resist/reject American culture.
bicultural
WHERE: cultural issues in psychological practice
WHAT: When a person has identifies with two different cultural identities // is able to function in two different cultural environments
- a bicultural person is. aware of the dominant culture’s + their native culture’s values, beliefs, and norms
- incl. language, values, customs, and norms
Maintaining/being bicultural may be difficult for the individual if the majority, dominant culture is pressuring assimilation.
WHY: While seeing bicultural clients, the therapist may need to assist in managing conflicts/discrepancies between the two cultures, support acculturation, and facilitate a positive self-identity. Maintaining/being bicultural may be difficult for the individual, especially if the dominant culture is pressuring assimilation
EXAMPLE: Mariam is a teenage bicultural girl who was born in the USA, but her parents were born in Egypt. Her and her family spend summer months in Egypt. She speaks both Arabic and English, and feels apart of both Egyptian and American culture. Mariam came to therapy because she feels conflicted between the traditional Egyptian values and the more liberal American ones.
coming out process
WHERE: cultural issues in psychological practice
WHAT: The process of self-identification and self-acceptance for LGBTQ+ people.
Can include disclosures of one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity to people in their life.
May lead to rejection and anger, or relief and acceptance.
6 Stage Process: confusion, comparison, tolerance, acceptance, pride, synthesis
WHY: Coming out is a significant even, and therapists working with the LGBT+ community need to understand the significance and the intricacies of the process in order to adequately support clients.
Can also help clients work through their fears of the possible consequences of coming out.
EXAMPLE: John is a 18 year old boy. He recently came out to his close friends and told them he was gay. He is unsure of whether or not/how to tell his very conservative parents. He came to therapy due to ambivalence, stress, and fear of rejection.
cultural competence
WHERE: During therapy, being culturally competent involves recognizing and addressing potential cultural barriers to treatment, such as language differences, cultural stigmas around mental health, and varying attitudes toward therapy. Therapists can develop strategies to overcome these barriers and facilitate better access to care.
WHAT: Cultural Competency refers to the ability of therapists and other professionals to understand, appreciate, and interact effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. It involves being aware of one’s own cultural worldview, gaining knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and developing cross-cultural skills to provide appropriate and respectful care.
WHY: Cultural competency is crucial in therapy for building trust, providing effective and relevant treatment, reducing misunderstandings, addressing cultural barriers, promoting inclusivity and equity, enhancing self-awareness, improving client outcomes, practicing ethically, and responding to the needs of diverse populations.
EXAMPLE: An example of being culturally competent in regards to therapy would be if a therapist were to change their approach to a more collectivist attitude when working with someone from a non-western culture. By accommodating treatment the patient may have a better outcome and establish rapport with the therapist due to their level of understanding.
cultural universality
WHERE: Identifying common human experiences can promote empathy and connection between therapists and clients. It helps therapists appreciate clients’ feelings and experiences from a perspective that acknowledges both universal and culturally specific elements.
WHAT: Cultural Universality refers to the idea that certain psychological processes, behaviors, and experiences are common across all human cultures, despite variations in cultural contexts. It suggests that there are fundamental aspects of human experience that are shared universally, such as basic emotional responses, cognitive processes, and certain psychological needs.
WHY: Cultural universality is important in therapy because it provides a foundation for understanding shared aspects of human experience, guides the application of evidence-based practices, enhances cross-cultural understanding, and promotes empathy and connection. It helps therapists balance universal principles with cultural specificity, leading to more effective and culturally sensitive care.
EXAMPLE: An example of Cultural Universality would be to take and Etic approach to counseling. This could look like a counselor holding the view that mental disorders such as panic disorder, depression, and schizophrenia appear throughout all cultures.
culture
WHERE: Culture is present throughout all of therapy as clients are more likely to engage in therapy and adhere to treatment plans when their cultural context is considered. Cultural competence helps in making therapy more relevant and engaging for clients, leading to better outcomes.
WHAT: Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, practices, traditions, languages, and social norms that characterize a group of people. It encompasses the ways of life, customs, rituals, and social behaviors that are passed down through generations and shape how individuals perceive and interact with the world.
WHY: Culture is fundamental in therapy because it shapes clients’ experiences, beliefs, and behaviors. Recognizing and incorporating cultural factors ensures that therapy is relevant, effective, and respectful, leading to better client engagement and outcomes. It also helps therapists to provide equitable care and address cultural barriers and biases.
EXAMPLE: An example of culture being involved in therapy would be to look at CBT itself. This western approach to mental health treatment focuses on the individual and how they have control over their outcomes and achievements. By acknowledging that this approach is created by and benefits western culture can the therapist adapt and change said approach based on ones culture.
culture bound
WHERE: Culture bound syndromes can be found all over the world. Understanding culture-bound aspects of a client’s experience allows therapists to communicate more effectively. Ethical therapy practice involves recognizing and respecting the cultural backgrounds of clients.
WHAT: Culture bound refers to behaviors, practices, beliefs, or conditions that are specific to a particular culture and may not be found or understood outside that cultural context.
WHY: Recognizing and addressing culture-bound aspects in therapy ensures that treatment is respectful, effective, and appropriate for the client’s cultural context. This awareness enhances the therapeutic alliance, fosters better outcomes, and supports the overall well-being of the patient.
EXAMPLE: A patient comes to see a counselor due to panic attack like symptoms regarding the belief that their genitals might be shrinking. This disorder is a culture bound and also known as Koro. Found in Southeast Asia, it is important for the counselor to demonstrate cultural competence and awareness of culture-bound phenomena in order to help the patient.
emic
WHERE: An Emic perspective can be found throughout therapy, research, and policy making. In areas such as public health, education, and social services, interventions and policies that are informed by an emic perspective are more likely to be culturally appropriate and effective. They take into account the specific needs, values, and practices of the community.
WHAT: An emic approach refers to studying a culture from within, focusing on the intrinsic cultural distinctions that are meaningful to the members of that society. This perspective seeks to understand cultural phenomena from the point of view of the people who live within the culture being studied.
WHY: The emic approach is crucial for gaining a deep, authentic understanding of a culture from within. It respects the unique perspectives of cultural members, enhances cultural sensitivity, and informs more effective and appropriate interventions and policies
EXAMPLE: An example of an Emic perspective would be if a researcher used specific indigenous beliefs, practices, and terminology in order to understand and communicate the concept of mental health to one of another culture.
ethnicity
WHERE: Some mental health issues may be closely tied to ethnic experiences, such as discrimination, acculturation stress, and identity conflicts. Therapists need to understand these specific challenges to provide appropriate support and interventions.
WHAT: Ethnicity refers to a group of people who share a common cultural, ancestral, language, or historical background. It encompasses a range of cultural factors, including nationality, regional culture, ancestry, and language, which contribute to a person’s identity and sense of belonging.
WHY: Recognizing and incorporating ethnicity into therapy is crucial for providing culturally competent care, building trust, tailoring interventions, and addressing the unique experiences and challenges faced by clients from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
EXAMPLE: An example of utilizing ethnicity in therapy would be if a therapist were working with an Asian American patient. In this patients culture it is taboo to hold intense eye contact with anyone that isn’t in a position of authority. To be multiculturally competent and aware of the patients ethnicity, the therapist can limit eye contact and adapt therapy to be inclusive to their patient.
etic
WHERE: An Etic perspective can be found throughout therapy and research and can include quantitative measures, controlled observations, and other standard western methodologies that emphasize reliability and validity.
WHAT: An Etic approach refers to studying cultural phenomena from the perspective of an outsider, often using concepts and criteria that may not be intrinsic to the culture being studied.
WHY: The etic perspective on culture is crucial for providing an objective, comparative, and scientifically rigorous understanding of human societies.
EXAMPLE: An example of an Etic perspective would be if a researcher were to use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to analyze social behavior of a different culture. This theory is standard in western culture but may not be applicable to all.
ethnocentric monoculturalism
WHERE: The impacts of ethnocentric monoculturalism can alter policies, social norms, education, media representation, access to opportunities, as well as access to health care. This way of thinking and behaving is often upheld and maintained by those in positions of power and privilege.
WHAT: This is the belief in the superiority of one’s own culture, ethnic group, or race and that these concepts are thrust upon the cultures, values, norms, and practices of other groups. This belief system is the foundation of oppression, marginalization, and devaluation of other cultures by viewing them as inferior or of less importance.
WHY: This makes it very important for therapists to unmask or deconstruct the values, biases and assumptions that reside in our preconceived notions that universal psychology is one size fits all.
EXAMPLE: An example of this would be to use a strictly CBT approach, that one can is the master of their own fate, and apply that to someone from an Eastern culture. This individualistic approach may be harmful and ineffective for an individual from a collectivist culture.
individualism
WHERE: Therapy can be more effective when it aligns with the client’s cultural orientation. For clients from individualistic backgrounds, therapeutic approaches that emphasize self-exploration, personal growth, and individual responsibility may be particularly effective.
WHAT: Individualism is a social and cultural orientation that emphasizes the importance of individual autonomy, self-reliance, personal goals, and independence. In individualistic cultures, people are encouraged to prioritize their personal needs and aspirations over those of the group.
WHY: The importance of individualism in therapy allows therapists to better understand their clients’ perspectives, tailor therapeutic approaches, and support personal growth and autonomy. This alignment with cultural values can enhance the therapeutic relationship and the effectiveness of treatment.
EXAMPLE: Individualistic cultures put an emphasis on goal setting and accomplishments as a way to enhance ones personal development. An example of this being used in therapy is incorporating SMART goals from out CBT toolbox to help empower the individualistic patient.
