Focusing on cultural humility enables individuals to effectively approach cultural nuances and confront stereotypes. Clinicians are called to care for patients with increasingly diverse backgrounds during vulnerable moments when gaining trust is imperative. Rula’s editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
- The 1980s marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of cultural competence in psychotherapy.
- Drawing upon the philosophy of Daoism, which is based on the concept of humility leading to the attainment of knowledge, Chang et al. argue that cultural humility can greatly increase the student’s receptiveness to learn about their own attitudes (5).
- A quantitative, one-group pre-test/post-test study was conducted with 58 participants from undergraduate health profession education programs in the United States.
The Ripple Effect: Benefits of Cultural Humility in Therapy
Indicators of culturally sensitive health care identified in focus groups of low-income African-American, Latino American, and European American primary care patients included interpersonal skills, individualized treatment, effective communication, and technical competence (8). Overall, cultural humility presents new opportunities for practice, and its adoption may be a key factor in promoting a recovery-oriented culture within mental health services. The application of a cultural humility lens can promote a recovery-oriented culture within mental health services, and it is the responsibility of providers to actively cultivate cultural humility.
The standard consent form that an individual reads and signs is only one part of the process and should take decision-making into account, which varies between cultures. Researchers need to keep these principles in mind when they select participants, obtain consent, and conduct research. Every clinical researcher must have at least basic training in these values and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) ensure that researchers incorporate these values in their studies. An individual’s culture is not a single identity; rather it’s a rich mixture of many influences and values. Minority groups such as American Indians, Alaska Natives, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or Pacific Islanders are often given certain cultural characteristics, but those descriptions can miss the mark. Group identities often define our cultural perspective but these groups, whether based on religion, race, or ethnic classification, are broad categories.
Cultivating an Intersectional Stance in Practice
The CHUMS Study (Cultural HUmility in Mental health Services) is a national research project based at Dublin City University and funded by the Health Research Board. Articles from Healthcare are provided here courtesy of Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. Finally, it is recommended that future research examine the effectiveness of such consistent frameworks within training and teaching contexts, inclusive of service-recipient voices.
Instead, healthcare institutions and providers need to raise them to the surface and become more comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations to effect change. One challenge is that healthcare executives, providers, and others working in the system aren’t having honest, authentic conversations about systemic or individual biases because it makes them uncomfortable. For this, cultural competence and humility and sensitivity trainings are essential. It is imperative that healthcare providers are aware of and troubled by these severe inequalities and inequities.
However, there was uncertainty in navigating cultural humility practice and concerns about potentially altering the client relationship. Themes within behavioral beliefs reflected improved practice, particularly for working with clients from marginalized groups. A trauma-informed care approach can facilitate improved treatment of those who have experienced trauma, and trauma-informed care is increasingly viewed as potentially beneficial for all patients.
Therefore, further empirical research is needed.30 Testing the 5Rs will contribute to knowledge about mitigating implicit bias in a LGBTQ mental health resources in Suffolk County field where there is no established methodology.30 Examples for further research include quantitative patient satisfaction scoring, as well as qualitative methods to assess the intended outcomes of improving patient care and clinician resiliency. Encouraging and implementing practices that improve communication decreases the risk of burnout while increasing connection with patients.29 Pausing to examine one’s personal state affects patient care by influencing subsequent communication and interactions. Invoking regard for patients within the 5Rs framework raises awareness of potential biases and allows clinicians to recognize, neutralize, and modify thoughts before they manifest into behaviors.
