Culturally Sensitive Therapy

Culturally sensitive therapy is an approach in which therapists emphasize understanding a client's background, ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists that specialize in culturally sensitive therapy will accommodate and respect the differences in practices, traditions, values and opinions of different cultures and integrate those differences into therapeutic treatment. Culturally sensitive therapy will typically lead with a thorough assessment of the culture the client identifies with. This approach can both help a client feel comfortable and at ease, and lead to more positive therapeutic outcomes – for example, depression may look different depending on your cultural background. Think this is approach may be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapDen’s culturally sensitive therapy experts today.

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Meet the specialists

 

Alison is a native New Yorker and believes understanding a client’s background and belief system is paramount for optimal treatment as it relates to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or other important elements of culture and/or identity.

— Alison Cunningham-Goldberg, Psychotherapist in New York, NY

A culturally sensitive therapist is one who is intentionally and mindfully curious about all ways of being human and all ways of healing. For the therapist, this takes work and deep listening, a willingness to be moved, disturbed, and humbled. Cultural sensitivity is understanding that there are experiences and feelings that you can never fully know or understand because you will never experience these things yourself (humility). It means staying vigilant for signs of implicit bias within.

— Beth Holzhauer, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Evanston, IL
 

I think this is a key foundation to any therapy.

— Heather Tahler, Psychologist

Many of the clients who see me experience identity issues or trauma symptoms related to racially based or intergenerational traumas. My professional training and experience as an activist and advocate spanning decades underlies much of my focus on racial and social justice. I'm particularly attuned to issues of "difference" among those whose experiences do not reflect dominant thinking regardless of whether that experience reflects marginalization: Mixed-race, interracial and multicultural.

— Meira Greenfeld, Psychotherapist in Phoenix, AZ
 

Ethical counseling is necessarily multicultural and culturally sensitive. I tailor sessions to your unique cultural background, including your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and language of origin. I have lived and worked in several countries, having spent most of my career in Latin America. I provide fully bilingual services in English and Spanish, and also speak French and Italian.

— Katherine Wikrent, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in New Orleans, LA

My life is immersed in alternative and marginalized communities, and I seek regular trainings in cultural sensitivity.

— Kelsey Smith, Licensed Professional Counselor in Atlanta, GA
 

A culturally sensitive therapist is one who is intentionally and mindfully curious about all ways of being human and all ways of healing. For the therapist, this takes work and deep listening, a willingness to be moved, disturbed, and humbled. Cultural sensitivity is understanding that there are experiences and feelings that you can never fully know or understand because you will never experience these things yourself (humility). It means staying vigilant for signs of implicit bias within.

— Beth Holzhauer, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Evanston, IL

I received a great graduate and post graduate education where culturally sensitive therapy was emphasized and in addition through additional training annual training.

— Sandra Nunez, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in , CA
 

Based upon your unique pieces of diversity (e.g., age, gender, race, class, etc.) I work to uncover how to view these from a place of agency and strength; in your home, work and social spheres. Each of us have aspects of our identity which we aren't nurturing to the fullest of our ability.

— Eldridge Greer, Clinical Psychologist in Denver, CO

My training as a counseling psychologist is steeped in a holistic view of humanity: strengths-based, developmental, contextual, multiculturally-sensitive with a focus on social justice. I have taught many courses on on CST, but more importantly, I continue to engage in a personal ongoing practice of cultural self-exploration, including awareness of the privilege I hold. CST means that we can explore all aspects of your identity and the ways they influence and contextualize your experiences.

— Katy Shaffer, Psychologist in Baltimore, MD
 

We have a diverse staff with different backgrounds that help understand your unique experiences based on the intersectionality of your identities.

— New Patterns Counseling, PLLC, Licensed Professional Counselor in ROUND ROCK, TX

As a Black gay male therapist, I feel I understand people's needs who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. As a person who endeavors to be culturally humble, I encourage exploration in the areas of Age, Developmental disabilities, Indigenous heritage, National origin, Racial identity, Ethnic identity, Gender, Socioeconomic Status, and sexual orientation.

— Uriah Cty M.A., LMFT # 121606, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Beverly Hills, CA
 

John has extensive education and clinical experience working with diverse populations.

— John Amundson, Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, TX

Our clinic prides itself on uplifting clients who come from under-served communities. We respect the intersectionality inherent in all of us and treat the whole client in context. In addition, we mindfully employ clinicians from multiple gender, cultural, and disability backgrounds.

— Barefoot And Balanced Therapy, Licensed Professional Counselor in Clackamas, OR
 

To paraphrase Ignacio Martin-Boro, for psychology to be truly emancipatory it must first sever itself from its own idealogical chains, from psychology itself. Dominant psychologies implicitly serve the status quo by defining health as adjustment to white, middle class, heteronormative, colonialist social norms. I aim to support you in reconnecting to your own cultural-historical-ancestral sources of health, healing, & resilience towards a deep integration of heart, body, spirit, story, & culture

— Nima Saalabi, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Sebastopol, CA