What is Culturally Sensitive Therapy?

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Culturally Sensitive Therapy emphasizes people’s various ethnic and cultural backgrounds within the therapeutic relationship.

Some approaches to therapy aim to treat every client the same — utilizing similar techniques, ways of communicating, and explanations of concepts. These therapists understand the importance of different cultures and recognize that these differences can impact the way someone experiences therapy. By bringing these experiences to the forefront of therapy, your therapist will validate your unique background and use it to work on your strengths and propel you toward your goals.

Your therapist will have foundational knowledge about your specific ethnic, cultural, and linguistic differences. They also will continue learning more about how your culture affects your life experiences.

Culturally Sensitive Therapy’s goal is to make you feel more comfortable and understood, not only when it comes to culture and ethnicity, but also religion, race, age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Your therapist will employ counseling techniques to help you on your healing journey. They also will serve as an advocate for your particular identities in the community by connecting you to culturally-sensitive resources. Ultimately, the therapy should make you feel comfortable and understood. When the therapeutic space is safer, you will be more likely to benefit from the process.

Therapists Who Specialize in Using Culturally Sensitive Therapy 

Elsa P Mendez

Washington

District of Columbia

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Lindsay D. Elizondo

San Diego

California

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Valorie Herd

Oakland

California

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Jennie Ziesenhenne

Atlanta

Georgia

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I love working with women who want to move beyond trauma, anxiety & narcissistic abuse. Further, I am passionate about helping women who have children with neurodevelopmental diagnoses. I believe that with effort and the right tools women can not just survive but thrive! My practice is in both CA and Arizona. I am a designated international Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy teacher having don...

Leighya J Richard

Orlando

Florida

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Debra Abukwaik, LCSW

Louisville

Kentucky

Do you need help with your anxiety or depression? Are you feeling sadness, fear, anger, stress, worry? Is it hard to get through the day? Are you being bullied? Do you wish you had closer relationships? Do you have long standing problems that just seem to never get better? Do you have a hard time telling people “no”? Do you wish you stood up for yourself better? Do you need to feel better about...
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