Professional organizations maintained a stance supporting cultural humility and multicultural practice, despite policies and legislation that discourage these practices. I think that at the previous clinic, I was able to really grow personally and professionally and develop my understanding of cultural humility and have really strong reflective conversations in supervision. Rather, providers should signify that clients are not expected to teach them about their culture. Practicing with cultural humility, particularly talking about values, helped to improve connection and “permeate that wall of awkwardness when it comes to meeting with a stranger,” allowing clients from marginalized communities to feel safer and more seen and heard.

Cultural Competence vs. Cultural Humility: A Comparative View

When integrating cultural identity and discussing cultural identity in therapy, participants identified as risk in unintentionally altering the client-provider relationship. But I think also a lot of times we miss the opportunity to explore what culture means to somebody, because we assume that if they look like us, or are the same religion, or same ethnic background or gender, that they have the same experiences that we do, or maybe think similarly to us—and that that is not always the case. In contrast, trying to discuss culture later on, when providers had not brought it before, was seen as a greater challenge. I just always think about just no set of https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Health-Services/Cancer-Prevention-and-Health-Promotion-Coalition/LGBTQ-Health/Mental-Health cultures are a monolithic type of people.

cultural humility in mental health

Why Tech’s Next Billion-Dollar Bet Will Be in Behavioral Health

  • Clinicians are called to care for patients with increasingly diverse backgrounds during vulnerable moments when gaining trust is imperative.
  • These findings underscore the importance of considering gender and cultural context in understanding and addressing stigma related to mental illness.
  • By focusing on the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, we can create more equitable, accessible, and effective mental health services for everyone.
  • This research can help to address barriers and promote cultural humility practice among mental health providers across multiple fields.
  • It requires effort on the clinician’s part to understand the patient’s reasoning, to ask for clarity, and to offer guidance while understanding that patient expectations or decisions will not always align with the clinician’s values or medical advice.

First and foremost, cultural humility leads to improved therapeutic alliance and client trust. When therapists embrace cultural humility, the benefits ripple out far beyond the individual therapy session. This means truly hearing what clients are saying, not just about their symptoms, but about their lives, their communities, and their cultural contexts. Active listening and validating diverse experiences is crucial. It’s about creating a space where clients feel their cultural identities are welcomed and respected.

cultural humility in mental health

Systemic barriers, insufficient cultural training, and the need for ongoing education are areas that demand attention. Despite significant progress, challenges persist in fully integrating cultural competence and humility into psychotherapy. Therapists increasingly recognized the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of each client, considering cultural factors in treatment planning. The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) inclusion of cultural competence in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) signaled a significant shift. The 1980s marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of cultural competence in psychotherapy.

cultural humility in mental health

This study bridges the fields of health promotion, health education, and health communication, offering a transformative approach to healthcare instruction. Additionally, this approach prepares students to deliver more empathetic and culturally sensitive care, which is essential for improving patient-provider relationships and patient outcomes 23,24. For example, a similar study with a larger sample of more diverse participants and a longitudinal design would be advised. The findings align with previous research suggesting the benefits of mindfulness interventions to promote compassion and cultural humility among health professionals , , , . The study revealed statistically and practically significant improvements in compassion, cultural humility, and mindfulness following the brief loving-kindness mindfulness exercise. To measure mindful awareness, compassion, and cultural humility, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) , Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale (SCBCS) , and Cultural Humility Scale (CHS) were utilized , all of which have demonstrated good validity and reliability.

cultural humility in mental health