Key TakeawaysCulturally and linguistically sensitive therapists bring awareness and knowledge to the sessions. They also tend to be conscious of values, assumptions, and biases regarding racial and ethnic groups.In 2015, only 31% of Black and Hispanic Americans and 22% of Asian Americans received mental health services, compared to 48% of Whites.Finding a therapist takes time. To see if a therapist is a good fit, mental health experts recommend leveraging consultations.
Key Takeaways
Culturally and linguistically sensitive therapists bring awareness and knowledge to the sessions. They also tend to be conscious of values, assumptions, and biases regarding racial and ethnic groups.In 2015, only 31% of Black and Hispanic Americans and 22% of Asian Americans received mental health services, compared to 48% of Whites.Finding a therapist takes time. To see if a therapist is a good fit, mental health experts recommend leveraging consultations.
Mental health providers who are culturally competent and sensitive are an integral component of high quality mental healthcare delivery.
Research demonstrated that providers with cultural competence training can improve their knowledge and skills in treating patients from varying socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.However, finding a culturally sensitive therapist is no easy feat.
Disparities In Mental Health Service Utilization
People of color have limited access to high quality mental health care. In 2015, only 31% of Black and Hispanic Americans and 22% of Asian Americans received mental health services, compared to 48% of White Americans, according the American Psychiatric Association.
When ethnic minority groups receive mental health care, they are also less likely to receive the best available treatments due to factors like lack of insurance coverage, stigma, and language barriers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health became a growing concern. Around 27.7% of Black people and 40.3% of Hispanic and Latino people reported having depression between April and May 2020.In addition, 22.9% of Hispanic and Latino people and 5.2% of Black people reported suicidal ideation.
How 3 AAPI Doctors Are Providing Culturally Sensitive Care
Finding a Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Therapist
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Having a therapist with a similar background can help build rapport. “That may make the individual more comfortable,” Bethea says.
When searching for a therapist,Debbie Opoku, MACP, RP, a registered psychotherapist, recommends exercising patience because finding a therapist takes time. “If you don’t have a rapport with a therapist, it’s okay to go off and find somebody else,” Opoku tells Verywell.
In addition to finding a therapist that meets cultural and linguistic needs, Opoku suggests looking for a therapist with credentials. “Bachelor’s degrees are great, but having a masters or doctorate is even better because they have more specialized education,” Opoku says.
While credentials remain important, the bottomline is trusting instincts. “No matter how many professional accreditations your therapist has, your own feelings of trust and comfort should be your top priority,” Opoku adds.
Therapists Can Bring Cultural Awareness and Help Combat Racial Trauma
Culturally and linguistically competent therapists invest in gaining cultural knowledge about the populations they serve because it helps with treatment and recovery, Opoku says. These therapists are aware of their own cultural values, assumptions, and biases, and how these factors affect their ability to provide services to clients, she adds.
“It is not the client’s responsibility to educate the therapist,” Bethea says.
People of color often struggle with racial trauma or race-based traumatic stress, Opoku explains, which can take a toll both physically and mentally. As a result, they may wish to discuss their grief and anger with therapists who look like them.
“It’s okay to ask for a therapist that looks like you, shares the same culture as you, or has the same life experiences as you,” Opoku says. “It may take time, but the process is worth it.”
What This Means For YouTo start your search for a culturally and linguistically sensitive therapist, visit Asian Mental Health Collective,Latinx Therapy,Melanin and Mental Health, orTherapy For Black Girls.
What This Means For You
To start your search for a culturally and linguistically sensitive therapist, visit Asian Mental Health Collective,Latinx Therapy,Melanin and Mental Health, orTherapy For Black Girls.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McGregor B, Belton A, Henry TL, Wrenn G, Holden KB.Improving Behavioral Health Equity through Cultural Competence Training of Health Care Providers.Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 2):359-364. doi:10.18865/ed.29.S2.359American Psychiatric Association.Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, April and May 2020.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McGregor B, Belton A, Henry TL, Wrenn G, Holden KB.Improving Behavioral Health Equity through Cultural Competence Training of Health Care Providers.Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 2):359-364. doi:10.18865/ed.29.S2.359American Psychiatric Association.Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, April and May 2020.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
McGregor B, Belton A, Henry TL, Wrenn G, Holden KB.Improving Behavioral Health Equity through Cultural Competence Training of Health Care Providers.Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 2):359-364. doi:10.18865/ed.29.S2.359American Psychiatric Association.Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, April and May 2020.
McGregor B, Belton A, Henry TL, Wrenn G, Holden KB.Improving Behavioral Health Equity through Cultural Competence Training of Health Care Providers.Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 2):359-364. doi:10.18865/ed.29.S2.359
American Psychiatric Association.Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, April and May 2020.
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