In an increasingly diverse world, psychotherapy must meet the unique needs of each individual. Culturally sensitive therapy is not a new “technique” in fashion, but a fundamental approach that recognizes that our culture, backgrounds, and identities shape who we are, our suffering, and our ways of healing. If you’ve ever felt like your experience wasn’t fully understood in a traditional therapeutic setting, this article is for you.

What is culturally sensitive therapy?

Imagine a space where you don’t need to justify your traditions, explain your beliefs, or translate your cultural experiences. This is the heart of culturally sensitive therapy. It is an approach that actively integrates awareness and respect for your cultural heritage, values, language, religion and identity (be it ethnic, gender, sexual, etc.) at the heart of the therapeutic process.

In concrete terms, this means that your therapist:

• Recognizes the impact of culture on your worldview, relationships, and mental health.
• Is aware of their own cultural biases and actively works to not let them interfere in therapy.
• Strives to understand specific challenges you may encounter, such as discrimination, racism, acculturation stress, or intergenerational conflict.
• Adapts its methods so that they are relevant and respectful of your cultural frame of reference.

It is not a question of putting people in “cultural boxes”, but rather of acknowledging the richness and complexity of each individual identity, which is always a unique mosaic.

A framework that gives meaning: narrative and systemic approaches

Culturally sensitive therapy is deeply rooted in frameworks of thought that see the individual as part of a whole. Two of these approaches are particularly enlightening: the narrative approach and the systemic approach.

The narrative approach is based on the principle that we build our identity through the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. These stories are shaped by our family, our community and, of course, our culture. Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in negative “dominant stories,” often imposed by society, that define us by our problems or failures.

In a culturally sensitive setting, the therapist helps you to:

• Identify these dominant narratives and understand how they have been influenced by experiences of marginalization or oppression.
• Uncovering “counter-histories,” moments of resilience, strength, and resistance that have been forgotten or set aside.
• Rewrite your history in a way that empowers you, incorporating and celebrating the aspects of your culture that are a source of strength and pride.

The systems approach considers that individuals cannot be understood in isolation. We are part of different “systems”: our family, our circle of friends, our community, our workplace, and society as a whole. These systems are governed by rules, expectations, and dynamics that influence our behavior and well-being.

In this sense, culturally sensitive therapy uses this dual lens to:

• Explore how your family and cultural system conceives of mental health, communication, or problem-solving.
• Understand the power dynamics and social pressures that may weigh on you as a member of a particular cultural group.
• Mobilize resources in your community and culture to support your healing process.

Why choose culturally sensitive therapy?

Psychotherapy has long been dominated by Western, white, individualistic models. While useful, these models are not universal and can sometimes conflict with the values and experiences of people from other cultures. For example, an approach that values independence at all costs may be ill-suited for someone from a culture where community and interdependence are paramount.

Choosing a culturally sensitive therapy means choosing a therapy that doesn’t ask you to leave a part of yourself at the door. It is to make sure that the person in front of you is ready to take the path to understand your reality in its entirety.

Opting for this approach can radically transform your therapeutic experience:

• A sense of security and validation: Feeling truly seen and heard in all dimensions of one’s identity is deeply healing.
• A stronger therapeutic alliance: Trust is the basis of any successful therapy. Knowing that your therapist respects and values your culture strengthens this essential bond.
• More relevant tools: Strategies and solutions co-created with your therapist will be aligned with your values, making them easier to apply and more effective in the long run.
• Exploring specific issues: You can safely address topics such as culture shock, building a multicultural identity, or the impact of racism on your mental health.
• True empowerment: By reconnecting with the strengths of your culture and giving new meaning to your story, you develop a sense of power over your own life.

Who is this therapy for?

The beauty of this approach is that it is beneficial for everyone, because we all have a culture! However, it is particularly indicated if:

• You are from an ethnic, cultural or religious minority.
• You are an immigrant, a refugee, or the child of immigrants.
• You are in a multicultural relationship or family.
• You are an LGBTQ+ person and want to explore the intersection of your cultural identity and your gender or sexual identity.
• You feel like your culture is an important part of who you are and that this has not been taken into account in past therapeutic experiences.
• You simply want therapy that is open, humble, and curious to understand the world through your eyes.

Engaging in therapy is an act of courage and self-love. Choosing a therapist who honors your totality of being is your most basic right. If this article resonates with you, do not hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can create a space where your story, in all its cultural richness, can be heard, respected, and transformed.

Bibliography to go further

Freire, Paulo. The Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Paris: Agone, 2021.

White, Michael. Maps of narrative practices. Paris: Satas, 2012.

White, Michael, and David Epston. Narrative Means to Foster Change. Paris: Satas, 2003.

Anderson, Harlene D. Collaborative Therapy: Relationships and Conversations That Make a Difference. New York: Routledge, 2012.

Andersen, Tom. The Reflecting Team in Action: Collaborative Practice in Family Therapy. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1995.

Freire, Paulo. Education for Critical Consciousness. New York: Continuum, 2005.

Madsen, William C. Collaborative Therapy with Multi-Stressed Families: From Old Problems to New Futures. New York: Guilford Press, 2007.

Sue, Derald Wing, Patricia Arredondo, and Roderick J. McDavis. Multicultural Counseling Competencies and Standards: A Call to the Profession. Journal of Counseling & Development 70, no. 4 (1992): 477-486.

Sue, Derald Wing, et al. Multicultural Counseling Competencies: Individual and Organizational Development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998.