5 Benefits of Culturally Responsive Therapy

Whether we realise it or not, our behaviour and personal values are deeply intertwined with the culture we were raised in. Given how culture can shape our perspectives, people from different cultures can approach situations, relationships, and problems in different ways. From a psychological point of view, cultural context can influence how people engage with mental health support.

For some, seeing a psychologist who understands their cultural background can make a meaningful difference to their therapeutic experience, helping them feel more understood and more comfortable engaging in therapy. This is often referred to as culturally responsive therapy – an approach that takes into account cultural factors when assessing a person’s mental health or tailoring treatment.

What is Culturally Responsive Therapy?

Culturally responsive therapy is an approach to mental health support that recognises and considers the influence of cultural background on a person’s values, emotional experiences, identity, and coping mechanisms.

A therapist who practices culturally responsive therapy considers cultural, social, and contextual factors when developing an understanding of a person’s concerns, including their triggers or stressors. For example, filial piety (a commitment to caring for one’s parents) in Chinese culture can contribute to feelings of anxiety, stress, or guilt in family relationships. Research shows that people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds experience significant mental health challenges.

A therapist who shares a similar cultural background may bring lived experience that can support culturally responsive care, particularly in understanding cultural values and context. However, culturally responsive therapy can also be provided by therapists who actively develop cultural awareness and sensitivity in their work.

What Are the Benefits of Culturally Responsive Therapy?

1. Breaking Down Cultural Stigmas

In some cultures, discussing or openly seeking support for one’s mental health needs may be considered taboo. Research shows that attitudes towards mental health vary across cultures (Jorm et al., 1997; Ando et al., 2013). Cross-cultural studies have also examined differences in beliefs about whether mental health difficulties reflect “personal weakness” or whether a person could “snap out of it” (Griffiths et al., 2006).

Stigmatising attitudes can make it more difficult for a person to open up about their issues during treatment due to shame or fear of judgment. This can become a barrier to receiving mental health support.

Culturally responsive therapists understand the weight of cultural stigmas around mental health – some therapists may even have personally experienced this themselves. They acknowledge these dynamics and work at a pace that feels safe, helping individuals to open up.

2. Clearer Understanding of Mental Health Needs

It may feel frustrating or draining when your therapist does not accurately grasp your context or issues. Differences in cultural background can sometimes contribute to misunderstandings or miscommunication in therapy. Cultural nuance and values are often implicit, which can make it difficult to verbalise when trying to explain your situation.

A culturally responsive therapist can pick up on subtle cultural factors that may contribute to feelings of stress, anxiety, or discomfort. They are sensitive to nuances and factor in your cultural expectations, identity, and context.

3. Acknowledging Racism and Discrimination

Racial discrimination is widely documented to have detrimental effects on a person’s mental health, and can shape how one engages with therapy. Culturally responsive therapy involves acknowledging the impact of racism on a person’s life. Research suggests that when experiences such as racism and discrimination are not adequately understood or addressed in therapy, clients may report lower satisfaction and poorer perceived quality of care (Meyer & Zane, 2013).

4. Culturally Sensitive Support

Culturally responsive therapy is about applying different types of therapies in a way that aligns with a person’s cultural values, beliefs and context. This means evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and emotionally focused therapy (EFT) may be adapted to reflect a person’s cultural framework and lived experience.

For example, when working with someone from a culture that places strong emphasis on family relationships, therapeutic strategies may need to consider these dynamics to ensure they are culturally appropriate and sensitive to the person’s values and context.

5. Overcoming Language Barriers

Language can play an important role in therapy. Some emotional experiences or cultural concepts may not translate easily into another language, which can affect how clearly a person is able to express themselves and how accurately they are understood. When language barriers exist, therapists may end up with an incomplete picture and miss important cultural nuances.

Accessing support in a shared language may help facilitate clearer communication and reduce misunderstandings. Culturally responsive therapy considers both language and meaning, and some people may find it easier to engage in therapy when they are able to speak in their native language. For this reason, some people may choose to seek out Chinese speaking psychologists or Spanish speaking psychologists.

Choosing the Right Support for You

If you are considering therapy, you might find it helpful to think about the role of cultural factors in the support you’re seeking. At New Vision Psychology, we recognise the importance of cultural context in therapy. Our team includes over 40 psychologists from a range of cultural backgrounds, offering support in 18 languages, allowing individuals to access care that aligns with their values, preferences and experiences.