Culture

Question 1

How do you work with and understand people with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds?

Answer 1

• First, confirm basic demographic data about the client
• Refer to literature to get basic understanding of how client’s background might influence current strenghts/issues
• Try to be AWARE of cultural issues as they arise
• With client’s permission, work with client to gather KNOWLEDGE about their culture and their own experience of culture (never ASSUME!)
• Approach cultural issues with SENSITIVITY, compassion, and genuine curiosity
• Try to be aware of my own biases and seek supervision/consultation as needed

Question 2

What does cultural competence mean to you?

Answer 2

• Incorporating cultural/diversity factors in case formulation
• When appropriate, consulting the literature to gain better understanding of cultural/diversity factors and how they might impact functioning
• Get CLIENT’s perspective on how cultural/diversity factors contribute to functioning
• When appropriate, tailoring EBTs so that they are maximally beneficial to client with diverse/cultural background as needed
• Over the course of treatment: Awareness (of issues that arise, biases), Knowledge (continue to gather data from client and consult as needed), Sensitive when handling these issues (compassionate), and approach with genuine Appreciation of culture