Mental health is something that should be taken seriously. Whether people have a mental health condition or not, therapy offers several benefits to help improve their quality of life. When thinking about starting therapy, finding a culturally competent therapist should be high on your list of priorities. In your therapy team, having a multicultural therapist is important so that you feel more supported, comfortable, and confident that your therapist can identify with some of the issues they may struggle with. For example, people of color will feel more comfortable if their therapist is a person of color.
Let’s explore the many benefits of having a multicultural therapist and how it can help you feel more heard and supported during sessions.
Working with a Multicultural Therapist Means Investing In…
Cultural Competence
You would expect that a licensed and degreed professional mental health physician understands varied cultural perspectives, but this is not always the case. There is also no test for cultural competency. Therefore, just because a therapist has taken a diversity course doesn’t indicate they’ll be culturally sensitive towards your experiences.
A culturally competent therapist should acknowledge and respect clients’ views, opinions, and values based on race, belief system, ethnicity, or region. In today’s digital age, accessing such culturally competent care has become more convenient through online therapy platforms, offering diverse range of therapists to suit individual needs and backgrounds. Cultural awareness is about more than race. A culturally competent therapist should feel at ease discussing topics such as:
- Age
- Indigenous ancestry
- Racial Identity
- Disabilities
- Socioeconomic standing
- Sexual preference
- Gender
Clients who feel that their therapist does not understand their experiences are likely to look for other therapists or give up on therapy altogether. When your therapist is culturally competent it provides a safe space where you can feel seen, speak about similar issues, and feel validated.
Ease of Communication
There’s just something about having a conversation with someone who you share a similar background with. Imagine this scenario; a person of color is struggling with racial issues at their workplace.
Their therapist is white, and though they may be able to help to some degree, having a therapist who can identify with certain fears and stressors provides a sense of freedom and trust for the client.
Are you someone who belongs to the LGBTQ community and struggles with how you are perceived and treated in society? For many people, finding a therapist who shares this aspect of their identity can help ease the anxiety of therapy.
Opening up to a therapist who may not have experience with the discrimination or obstacles you face regularly can be hard. Finding an LGBTQ therapist is an excellent way to establish a sense of safety and solidarity without having to explain the details of why a certain situation is a trigger for you.
More Accurate Treatment
Treatment strategies are more likely to vary based on a person’s culture. Even if you don’t look for a therapist with the same background as you it’s important to find one that is big on being culturally sensitive.
You’re looking for a therapist who is aware of your specific experiences and needs. Your therapist should address the issues directly rather than treating you with standard therapy. Once a therapist shares similar experiences or understands your cultural background this makes for more accurate and effective treatment.
This connection can be even more important once you learn about attachment-based therapy. Attachment-based therapy is talk therapy that can help you cope with trauma and increase your ability to form relationships. It’s also based on attachment theory, which states that your early interactions with your primary caregivers shape how you form relationships in adulthood.
A person with a similar background may have experienced similar traumas. They may have developed a culturally specific way to deal with these traumatic experiences, and this can improve the accuracy of their treatment.
Improved Outcomes
This goes without saying, but a more accurate treatment means improved outcomes during your therapy sessions. The ability to have more comfortable conversations with your therapist and find that you relate too much of what is being said can speed up your progress.
If you feel the need to educate your therapist about your cultural history or the societal difficulties you encounter, you are unlikely to make progress in your therapy. That is why it is critical to locate a culturally sensitive therapist who understands your personal needs.
Final Thoughts
Seeking out a multicultural therapist for your team should be something that everyone sees as important. A multicultural therapist understands the obstacles various members of your team may face. Plus, there is a much smaller chance of stereotyping taking place. Having a multicultural therapist can ensure every member of your team feels heard, understood, and validated.
A culturally competent therapist can also help you feel less isolated. In addition to this, there will be more targeted treatments provided. Eventually, this leads to better outcomes during a team member’s therapy journey.
Of course, here at Day Translations, we take every team member’s mental health seriously and believe that everyone deserves the best results from their therapy sessions. If you couldn’t tell, we are also big on multiculturalism for each and every individual. Our team is driven by a passion for languages and culture and provides the highest quality translations. Give us a call or visit our website today to learn more.