Cultural Humility in Therapy

Therapists working with clients whose culture differs from their own may worry about offending clients with awkward questions or making a misstep in discussion of therapeutic content that may have cultural elements. Cultural humility is an other-oriented interpersonal stance that can assist in such situations, as it allows the therapist to explore the client's cultural identities while being mindful of the therapist's culture and any limitations of knowledge.

This stance, which may be used in conjunction with any therapy approach, allows the therapist to address difference comfortably and maintain the therapeutic alliance, all while acknowledging meaningful content.

In this video, Dr. Cirleen DeBlaere demonstrates cultural humility working with a client who has experienced tragic loss in her life. In a lively discussion, Dr. Jesse Owen talks with Dr. DeBlaere about the demonstration and the usefulness of fostering cultural humility in therapy