What Does Culturally-Sensitive Mean Anyway?

Nowadays, “culturally-sensitive” care is a big buzzword in the mental health field. You might also hear the terms “cultural humility”, “culturally-responsive”, or “culturally competent” (although this one is less popular - how does one become “competent” in a culture?). But what does this all mean, and why does it matter?

Culture plays a huge role in shaping how we view ourselves and the world around us. Culture includes the arts, yes, and it also includes the values, beliefs, expectations, behavior norms, laws, institutions, and so much more that come with belonging to a particular group. These groups are formed based off of location, citizenship, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, interests, literally anything you can think of. Culture is passed onto us through our experiences of being a part of that group. Sometimes it is explicitly stated (like No Smoking signs) but a lot of it is indirectly taught, based on how those around us behave or react to us.

We learn a lot of “rules” throughout the course of our lives as we soak in the culture of different groups. This teaches us what is “right” or “wrong” or “normal”. However, when you exist in communities where the dominant culture is not aligned with some part of your identity, it can be easy to think that the ways in which you are different make you “wrong” or “bad”. If you struggle to fit in, you may think that you are the problem. Even if you are a part of the dominant culture, nobody can get it “right” all the time.

Culturally-sensitive care recognizes that being different from the people around you doesn’t make your experiences any less valid. Culturally-sensitive care acknowledges that there is a wide breath of rich cultural heritages that all offer something unique and meaningful, and that often the problems come from the clashing of cultures instead of there being something inherently wrong with you. Culturally-sensitive care invites in all the different aspects of yourself and the cultures you belong to, knowing that your personal experience lives at the intersection of these groups.

So whether it’s finding a therapist who pronounces your name right, to finding a therapist who shares a similar background, getting culturally-sensitive care can make a difference. Feeling seen and understood by your therapist is the number 1 factor that indicates the effectiveness of therapy. Don’t you want to feel accepted for who you are, and all parts of yourself?

Finding Your Way Back to YOU

Welcome to my blog.

Life is hard for a lot of people right now, and unfortunately in the US mental health services can be very difficult to access. Especially if you hold any marginalized identities (which has been true for most of the folks I work with), it can be even more challenging to find accessible AND effective care.

In my experience across different settings, age groups, cultures, and formats, I have seen some major common themes bubbling up. As people bravely open up and share their stories of struggle, I often hear that underneath the surface, what is really challenging is that they don’t have a strong sense of themselves. They find it hard to understand what they’re feeling and why, what they really want, why they react a certain way, and why it is just SO HARD to change. Sometimes they have experienced traumas, or they were raised to put others before themselves. Many people are drowning in the flood of messages from the world around us about all the things that we SHOULD be doing, buying, and achieving. When it is inevitably impossible to meet these unrealistic standards, it is so easy to fall into the trap of believing that we are the problem.

I realized that almost all of my work falls under this umbrella. Better understanding yourself, your experiences, your habits, your different parts - there are so many different aspects to this. Then, being able to maintain your sense of self in the face of outside influences is a whole new ballgame. How do I be true to myself in my relationships? At work? How do I set healthy boundaries? How do I reassure myself that I, just as I am, am already enough?

I do need to add the disclaimer that this blog is not a substitute for professional therapy. Reading my blog does not constitute a direct therapeutic relationship between you and I, and mostly what I post will be educational and exploratory. I hope this blog will encourage you to reflect on your own and empower you to make positive changes in your life. I strongly believe that all people deserve the knowledge and opportunity to improve their mental health and well-being, whether they can access professional psychotherapy or not. I hope that my offerings will help you on your journey to find your way back to YOU.