What Does Culturally-Sensitive Mean Anyway?
Written by: Naomi Yu
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 breadth 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?
Author’s bio:
Naomi (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (CA - LMFT#110092) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR) based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, OR. She is a psychotherapist with Anise Health. She also has a private practice and leads groups/workshops in corporate, nonprofit, and community settings. In addition, Naomi serves on the Advisory Circle for New Seneca Village, a nonprofit network offering restorative retreats for cis, trans and non-binary Black, Indigenous and women of color leaders.
