A recent study in the Journal of Black Psychology highlights the continued need for cultural competency. Chu and colleagues (2016) define cultural competency as the clinician: having cultural awareness of how their own values and beliefs impact their perceptions of the client, having knowledge of the clients background and worldview, and having the skills to provide treatment in a culturally sensitive manner. According to the authors, David Goode-Cross, Ph.D. and Karen Grim, Ph.D. (2016), Black therapists reported that they occasionally feel that their formal training on working with Black clients appeared limited. The study reports that decades of research have noted challenges therapists experience when working with Black clients such as over-identification with the client, judgment or rejection by the client, and the clients’ reactions to perceived differences based on socioeconomic status (Goode-Cross & Grim, 2016). Although the study specifically discusses Black therapist, those who are non-Black may also have significant challenges connecting with clients who are not of the same ethnic group. Given the diversity of the United States, it is paramount that clinicians have training in cultural competency to improve their treatment with their clients. Numerous studies have demonstrated that when a clinician is culturally sensitive, clients have greater benefits and treatment efficacy is enhanced. Furthermore, many mental health professions including the American Psychological Association have ethical guidelines that require clinicians to have training and skills in diversity and cultural competency. Common themes when working with African American clients:
Portions of this blog were previously published on Psychology Today by Dr. Erlanger Turner, Ph.D.
0 Comments
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental illness refers to having a mental health disorder that involves sustained, abnormal alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress and impaired functioning. Having a mental heath disorder is a serious concern and is just as important as maintaining your physical health. Mental illness also makes it more difficult to manage chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, epilepsy, and cancer (CDC, 2015).
Although mental illness and psychological difficulties impact all racial and ethnic groups, Whites are more like to utilize treatment to improve their difficulties. Recent data reports that in the past year, outpatient mental health services were most frequently used by White adults (7.8 percent), and American Indian or Alaska Native adults (7.7 percent), followed by Black (4.7 percent), Hispanic (3.8 percent), and Asian (2.5 percent) adults (SAMHSA, 2015). One of the biggest factors related to seeking psychological treatment is structural barriers and negative attitudes such as stigma. Service cost or lack of insurance coverage was the most frequently cited reason for not using mental health services across all racial/ethnic groups (SAMHSA, 2015). Additionally, the belief that use of mental health services would not help was the least frequently cited reason for not using mental health services across all racial/ ethnic groups (SAMHSA, 2015). In my own research, I have found that among racial and ethnic groups, stigma and concerns about privacy are some of the most important factors that hinder the use of services among these groups (Turner, Jensen-Doss, & Heffer, 2015). To improve the use of services efforts must be made to address the stigma around seeking services. One of the ways to decrease stigma is to better understand the benefits of seeking services. In a previous blog (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-race-good-health/201503/5-signs-seeking-help-may-benefit-you), I discuss 5 signs for when to seek mental health services. These signs may help you decide whether you or someone close to you may benefit from talking to a psychologist or mental health professional.
Copyright 2015 Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. Follow me on Twitter @DrEarlTurner for daily post on psychology, mental health, and parenting. Feel free to Like my Facebook page. Read my Psychology Today blog https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-race-good-health/
Reference:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Mental Illness Surveillance Among Adults in the United States. Retrieved May 2015 from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6003a1.htm?s_cid=su6003a1_w Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2015). Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use among Adults. HHS Publication No. SMA-15-4906. Rockville, MD. Turner, E.A., Jensen-Doss, A., & Heffer, R. (2015, April). Ethnicity as a moderator of how parents’ attitudes and perceived stigma influence intentions to seek child mental health services. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advance online publication The National Institute of Health (NIH) describes culture as the combination of a body of knowledge that involves things such as personal identification, language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions that are often specific to ethnic, racial, religious, geographic, or social groups. Cultural competency is the practice of recognizing how these elements influences an individuals behavior; and therapist who provide culturally sensitive services incorporate culture into their treatment approaches. Why is cultural competency important? The demographics of the United States continue to change and communities are becoming more diverse. Cultural competency is critical to reducing health disparities and improving access to high-quality health care, health care that is respectful of and responsive to the needs of diverse patients. Given the increase in diversity and the high representation of therapist who are from non-diverse backgrounds, cultural competency is extremely important. To read more about cultural competency click here. Tips to determine if your therapist is culturally competent 1. If you discuss alternative coping methods to address your distress (such as praying, reading religious material, or talking to a pastor), your therapist attempts to understand how things things are important to you and/or your family. 2. When faced with difficult issues related to discrimination or social injustice, your therapist does not discount the value of your concerns. 3. Family connectedness important to many - and sometime very important in in many ethnic and cultural groups. Does your therapist encourage family members to be involved in your treatment (if appropriate)? 5. Many racial groups and cultures have beliefs about the causes of distress or mental illness. Does your therapist ask about your understanding of the cause of your symptoms? 6. Verbal and non-verbal communication (what we say and do) often hold different levels of importance for various groups. If your therapist works to understand your individual and group communication styles they recognize the importance of culture to treatment. These are just a few examples of ways to determine if your therapist is trained in cultural competency. Does your therapist have skills? Copyright 2014 Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/drearlturner) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DrEarlTurner). Join the conversation and discuss other topics related to parenting, mental health, wellness, and psychology. |
AuthorDr. Turner is a licensed psychologist with expertise in behavioral pediatrics, child mental health, disruptive behavior disorders, and minority mental health. He is also certified as a National Register Health Service Psychologist. Archives
May 2017
Categories
All
|