Importantly, therapists should demonstrate knowledge of how events that take place outside the therapy room could be affecting their client’s well-being or state of mind. Being aware of these potential preferences, and tailoring their approach accordingly, can help therapists formulate treatment plans that are suited to each client. Alternatively, some studies have found that clients who hail from more collectivist Eastern cultures may feel more comfortable when their therapist takes on an “expert” role and may dislike the more collaborative approach that is common in Western, individualist cultures. Other studies show that certain behaviors, such as familiar use of language and a general display of personable traits, can play a particularly important role in some cultures avoiding these approaches can alienate clients. Understanding and applying the cultural expectation of disclosing some personal information, for example, may help clients who identify as Latino feel a stronger bond with their therapist. For instance, one study noted that therapy with Latino clients tended to be less effective when the therapist was seen as distant. Research has helped document the positive effects of cultural sensitivity practices and has also outlined specific examples of how therapists can be more culturally competent in their interactions with clients of different backgrounds. A culturally competent therapist will therefore keep an open mind and ask questions to determine which approach is best for a particular client. At the same time, they recognize that every individual is unique and that two clients who hail from the same culture may still have very different beliefs, values, and preferences. Therapists who successfully integrate cultural sensitivity practices into their treatment recognize and respect differences and take steps to communicate and interact empathetically with clients from diverse backgrounds. The expectation and ultimate goals for both the therapist and the client are notable progress and improvement, sometimes despite cross-cultural boundaries and differences. In recent years, widespread societal discussions and shifting ideas about race, gender, sexual orientation, and other related topics have increased the demand for culturally sensitive therapy, and many therapists now actively seek to increase their cultural competence through education, training, and self-reflection.Ī culturally sensitive therapist follows guidelines for working with diverse groups of people and understands that racial, cultural, religious, gender, and sexual identities interact with one’s beliefs and behavior. By contrast, feeling as if a therapist doesn’t understand or respect one’s culture can lead some clients to give up on therapy or avoid seeking it altogether. The need for this understanding may be based on characteristics such as age, beliefs, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.įinding a therapist who is culturally sensitive can help clients-especially those who don’t identify with the dominant culture group-feel understood by their therapist, which often contributes to a stronger therapeutic alliance. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into their work to accommodate and respect differences in the opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people and to provide the most effective treatment for a particular client.Ĭultural sensitivity allows a therapist to gain and maintain cultural competence, which is the ability to first recognize and understand one’s own culture and how it influences one's relationship with a client, then understand and respond to a culture that is different from one’s own. Culturally sensitive therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client’s background and belief system as it relates to their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or other important elements that make up someone’s culture and/or identity.

Diverse client base