Finding a professional mental health care provider might seem easy, the difficult task is finding one who understands your struggles, respects your culture, and knows how to apply treatment strategies following your cultural beliefs. In this article, we will talk about the importance of culturally competent care on mental health, how to find them, and how to openly express yourself around them.
Understanding Culturally Competent Care
Culturally competent care is the ability of care providers to acknowledge, understand, and accept the different cultural backgrounds of their patients. For care to be culturally competent, providers understand the values of diverse cultures and know how to provide care that complements those cultures.
Why It Matters
Imagine taking your car to a service center, and the mechanic does not understand how the car works, how you have been using it, and your maintenance cycle. It would be hard for the mechanic to give the full diagnosis and find the best solution to fixing the car. This also applies to mental health care. A therapist who does not understand your background or the challenges you face based on your identity might not be able to help you.
Culturally competent care plays a significant role in improving the outcome of treatment. Healthcare providers who understand your culture and experiences are more likely to give better help because they know your struggles, respect your culture, and take measures to make you more comfortable.
Key Attributes Of Culturally Competent Providers
Searching for culturally competent mental care providers can be overwhelming. However, some specific traits show cultural competence. Let us look at some of the traits you can find in mental health care providers who are culturally competent.
Awareness of Cultural Differences
A culturally competent care provider should know the different types of cultural backgrounds their patients come from. They should understand how your culture works, cultural norms concerning mental health, how it influences your mental well-being, and the most suitable treatment options. For instance, some cultures prohibit people from administering care to the opposite gender, while others do not mind. In this situation, the care provider should be able to provide a suitable person based on your cultural preferences (e.g. Female patients should be treated by female care providers).
Communication Skills
When it comes to managing mental health, the importance and effectiveness of communication cannot be understated. For communication to be effective, it has to be a two-way conversation (both parties actively participate). Care providers should not just listen, they should be able to engage the patient by actively asking necessary questions, showing interest, being compassionate, and being non-judgmental.
Inclusivity and Respect
You can’t talk about inclusivity and ignore respect, they are two sides of the same coin. Patients should feel comfortable with expressing their challenges. A culturally competent care provider should be able to provide a safe space for that. They should be able to acknowledge your beliefs, understand your practices, and validate your experience. The fastest way to build a bond between patient and caregiver is inclusivity and respect.
Finding Culturally Competent Care
Knowing how to identify competent mental caregivers is one thing, how to find them is another challenge. Here are some practical steps you can use to find culturally competent caregivers:
Researching Local Resources
Local mental health resources might have what you are looking for, you should begin your search there. Online websites like Psychology Today have tools that can help fine-tune your search. You can also find organizations in your community that are dedicated to providing culturally sensitive care.
Asking the Right Questions
After you find some potential providers, ask questions to gain clarity about their views on certain topics related to your culture. Carefully listen to their response to see if you share similar views. You can ask questions such as:
- Have you worked with people from my cultural background before?
- Do you have treatment plans that address certain barriers in my culture?
- Do you practice inclusivity and respect
- Do you try to stay updated on cultural trends that may impact your work?
- Can you share an example of a time your cultural competence made a difference in your work?
- What kind of training do you and your team undergo to stay updated on cultural issues?
Trust Your Gut
Your intuition might be right sometimes. If you have a gut feeling about a particular caregiver, you should sit down and reflect on it before making a decision. Ask yourself thought-provoking questions such as “Did you feel comfortable discussing with them?” “Do you feel they can give you proper care?” “Did they make you feel respected throughout the discussion?” If you do not feel satisfied after answering these questions, it is okay to continue your search elsewhere.
Evaluating Your Experience
After finding a care provider, the next step is to evaluate your experience after each session. Try to log your experience before and after each session to compare how helpful it was.
Reflecting on Your Sessions
After each session, have moments of self-reflection on how the session went. Did the provider understand your cultural background and its unique mental challenges? Did you feel comfortable during the discussion? Evaluate several aspects that can help you determine if the provider is the right person for you.
Seeking Feedback
Getting opinions from your friends and family about your experience can also help you make good decisions. They may see things from a different perspective that you haven’t considered. Third-party opinions can help you realize if your caregiver is meeting your needs.
Conclusion
Finding a culturally competent care provider can make the overwhelming task of navigating the world of mental health care look so easy. The main attributes to look out for are experience, cultural awareness, respect, and effective communication. During your search, trust your instincts, and do not hesitate to seek more clarity by asking questions. Remember, your care provider might be the one who would take you through your mental health journey, so it is crucial to pick the one who understands and respects your unique experiences.
