multicultural considerations in psychotherapy Flashcards
most of the originators of key approaches in psychotherapy were
white men
minority groups can experience prejudice and marginalization which leads to
poor mental health
the dominant mainstream psychotherapies
have white, male, Western roots
the support of a monoculture world view
is not suited to culturally diverse clients
the support of a monocultural worldview can lead to
ethnocentrism
minority groups may not seek or be offered appropriate help due to
systemic prejudice within psychotherapy
the core values that distinguish western and eastern cultures
individualism vs collectivism; cognitivism vs emotionalism; free will vs determinism; materialism vs spiritualism
Derald Sue
well known for work on microaggressions and implicit racial bias
while monocultural view would neglect multicultural worldviews, fail to consider historical and sociopolitical contexts, and resist change, a multicultural view
would embrace diversity, examine worldviews, consider power differences, and embrace change
therapeutic approaches to address issue of culturally relevant psychotherapy
- more engagement with non western approaches 2. adapt existing mainstream therapies to be more culturally sensitive 3. therapists developing multicultural competencies
non western therapies
meditation and naikan therapy
Naikan therapy
Japanese Buddhism, find meaning. feel and show gratitude, evidence that this improves well being
adapting mainstream therapy, using person centered therapy, to be more multicultural
use empathy to listen carefully to culturally relevant cues instead of not attending to them, ask clients to help therapist’s understanding of cultural context, check the accuracy of therapist’s cultural understanding
potential barriers to therapy from other cultures
the therapists as experts to give direction, clients reluctant to talk about problems outside family
developing cultural competence
- awareness of own assumptions 2. understanding worldview of culturally different clients 3. developing appropriate strategies/techniques
developing awareness of own assumptions, values, and biases is important because
the dominant monocultural approaches of therapy disempowers marginalized groups if therapists are unaware of own biases
the understanding of worldview of culturally different clients entails understanding
the cultural experiences, heritage, and historical backgrounds, how culture and race affect help-seeking, how culture and race affect assessment, selection, and implementation of interventions, and oppressive environmental influences
in order to have a more culturally competent role as a therapist, developing appropriate strategies and techniques might include
verbal/non verbal communication, tailoring therapeutic relationship, and engaging in helping roles beyond therapist (advisor, advocate, etc)
