Embracing a Culturally Curious Lens

Do you know what it feels like to think that you have finally met “your” people, only to find out that you have been tricked, deceived, or even swindled? This is what I felt like being around Marriage and Family Therapist who wholeheartedly believe in the vision of healing the system, however only aspire to become culturally competent. As a budding therapist it was disheartening to realize that there was no move towards systemic change talk around increasing cultural aptitude. I know that this may be a hard pill to swallow for some, but I love to shake up the system, and evoke change to achieve our shared goal of mental wellness for all.

Client loads will continue to shift as more people learn about the positive impact that Marriage and Family Therapist can have on the family system. With this transformation, the demand for being culturally competent can seem daunting to some. Having the goal of being culturally competent should only be accepted as a behavioral change or what we in the MFT world, consider a first order change. Being culturally competent can merely achieve surface-level comprehension. Understanding and being open to clients that are different is a vital component to the self of a therapist and can lead to successful therapist.

Having the ability to navigate different groups, cultures, and experiences enables you to see other perspectives while also refining your own. Exposure to other religions, traditions, or lifestyles, never take away from who you are, but enriches your understandings, positively Increasing life and work experiences. The exposure to cultures, unlike your own will equipped you with the tools to navigate unfamiliar situations, leaving you prepared and flexible. This self-confidence Increases your ability to be vulnerable, take risks, and explore new possibilities within yourself and your clients.

6 Ways to Be Culturally Curious

1. Be Authentic

Do the self of the therapist work and continue to learn about your own culture. Heroically discover personal unconscious biases.

2. Be Open to Otherness

Try new things, meet people outside of your circle, and do something different. Dare to “Do life” with people that are different than you.

3. Incorporate Differences

Boldly connect on the similarities but, remain non-judgmental of others’ opposing ideas, beliefs, and values.

4. Be a Life Learner

Courageously go beyond superficiality and learn as much as you can through researching and discovery.

5. Learn to Broach

As you’re learning, audaciously ask about what you don’t know or understand. Share your values and experiences and don’t be afraid to have a dialogue about differences.

6. Stay Curious

When connecting with new people and cultures, always be willing to learn more. Have courageous conversations to develop a deeper understanding.

We must boldly look beyond your current circles to make personal, professional, and inspired connections. Remember we can never be completely culturally competent, but we can always be culturally curious….

I challenge you to become more than culturally competent by becoming culturally curious.

By: Shacoya Graham LMFT, LCASA