top of page
  • Writer's picturelanocepsychiatry

Why We Need More Culturally Competent Therapists

Updated: Feb 18, 2021



While there may not be critical ethnic or racial distinctions in the case of mental health conditions, ethnic minorities are less interested to look for a comprehensive outpatient treatment center for psychotherapy and are more interested to leave after the first session. The higher withdrawal rates are possible because of the encounter of microaggressions.


Sometimes these insulting, subtle, or revoking behaviors or comments directed at groups or individuals criticized depending on socioeconomic status, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ethnicity, and/or race are not always purposed. Still, they reflect insensitivity, unconscious bias, and/or hostility toward the already demeaned individual.


The continuous experience of microaggressions, especially those that happen regularly depending on just skin color, can affect the entire psychological health. Microaggressions’ negative psychological effects may be complex if the person is non-religious, homosexual, bisexual, impoverished, transgender, or female.


Encountering microaggressions in a therapeutic ambiance can be even more dangerous. Anytime a person looks for the help of a psychotherapist, he is feeling a level of emotional vulnerability or unrest. And it needs the courage to reduce the worry of reaching out for assistance, especially for many ethnic and racial minorities. An individual must not be made to feel ashamed, unworthy, or unsafe due to the unintended or purposed expression of bias or prejudice or a psychotherapist.


Black Culture Criterion and Mental Health


Black culture can go a long for reducing the worry related to both mental health therapy and toward wider adoption of mental health conditions. Culture plays a pivotal role in a black person’s decision to look for mental health treatment. Treatment was not seen as a choice for black individuals.


People turned to family, religion, or close buddies to help them with their issues, in case they even selected to disclose their problems. For many people, this means suffering silently. Thankfully, the situation is changing with this as more black people have exposure to treatment and culturally competent therapists.


Now imagine opposing cultural standards to look for treatment, just to have the individual you have trusted with your secrets create comments that hurt struggles associated with your recognition. This suggests the essential demand for culturally competent therapists. While having a therapist of a similar race is necessitous, it’s not the basic means of relationship and understanding in the connection between client and therapist.



The capacity of completely seeing the recognition of the client, empathizing, and making space for the interest and feelings to try to understand the client – with no requirement of diagnosing or being right – can serve as a big support for a positive therapeutic connection.


Finding a Culturally Competent Therapist


If you are seeking a comprehensive outpatient treatment center for psychotherapy, here are a few suggestions to guide you in your search:


· Know more regarding cultural competence


· Check out online mental health directories


· Don’t restrict your search to psychotherapists of your ethnicity and race


· Join online psychotherapy sessions to maximize the selection pool


Remember that even after choosing an expert psychotherapist, creating a therapeutic relationship is a procedure that needs a commitment from both of you and needs time to grow.

18 views0 comments
bottom of page