Understanding Cultural Factors in Mental Health Treatment

We all take our environment, our culture, and our understanding of the world for granted. We usually assume that those around us have the same perceptions we do. It can be a shock to realize that others have grown up with entirely different sets of values and understandings.

Or, maybe you already know that. You were raised in a family with traditional roots, then ventured out into the wider world, which quickly taught you that your experience was unique, not universal. In fact, there’s really no “universal.”

And now you’ve ventured into the unknown territory of mental health therapy. Nobody in your family has ever had therapy. Nobody believes that it’s beneficial. In fact, they may even see it as a betrayal.

At The Soho Center for Mental Health Counseling, our expert counselors come from diverse backgrounds. Many of us, like you, are trying to navigate the world of mental health while still respecting family and cultural traditions. We bring that same inclusive approach to therapy in our offices in Greenwich Village, New York City.

How do cultural factors play into mental health treatment? The following are a few examples. 

Your family may feel threatened or betrayed

If your significant other or your family members are from a culture other than yours, it may be difficult for them to agree to couples counseling or family therapy. They may feel like you’re blaming them, criticizing them, or abandoning their deeply held beliefs and values.

Even if your goal is to help your relationships through couples or family therapy, you may ultimately have to give your loved ones time. You, however, can still benefit from therapy right now. And then, as they start to notice positive changes in the way you act, feel, and interact, that may spark their curiosity enough to join you.

Though you intend to care for yourself, that may still feel threatening to your loved ones. They may worry that you’re going to complain about them to your therapist. They may worry that you’ll change so much that you won’t need them anymore.

Fortunately, going through therapy yourself can help you deal with their anxieties, too. You learn that their anger and fear have nothing to do with you, and you can learn to respond in a way that doesn’t further inflame the situation. 

In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, you may wish to discuss motivational interviewing (MI) with your counselor. With MI, you learn to talk to others in a way that helps them make better decisions for themselves, without feeling pressured or judged. 

You — or your family members — may feel ashamed

If you grew up in a traditional culture that eschewed modern interventions, such as psychology and therapy, you or your family members may feel ashamed that you aren’t “strong enough” to power through the tough times. Therapy may be seen as a sign of weakness, instead of a sign that you want to learn new skills to help you reach your full potential.

During your therapy session — either alone or with family members — we encourage you to bring up these painful feelings. You aren’t alone; many other patients wrestle with shame or guilt when seeking help for mental illness.

There may be language — and expression — barriers

In addition to speaking different languages, different cultures that use various words to describe the same things. For instance, while you and your friends may refer to anxiety, someone from another culture might refer to that condition as nervousness.

Other cultures may not even use words at all to express deeply felt emotions. Instead, they somaticize and reveal their distress in physical symptoms, such as headaches, backaches, or other types of chronic pain.

We tailor-make your therapy

Our therapists are trained in cross-cultural communications. We respect — and live with — diversity, both in our city and in our practice. A therapist’s job isn’t to judge. Our job is to listen objectively and help you find a path toward feeling better.

To respect your or your family’s traditions, we may pair you with a counselor from a similar background or one whose culture shares commonalities with your family of origin. We also offer language assistance when needed.

As much as possible, we accommodate your family’s traditions and linguistic approaches when designing goals and treatment plans. We are sensitive to and respect religious and cultural traditions and take those into account, too. 

If you struggle with your desire for mental health treatment and your family’s rejection of such help, we’re here to help you find a path that feels comfortable and safe. Give our understanding staff a phone call or book an online appointment for family or individual mental health therapy at our Greenwich Village, New York City office or via HIPAA-compliant teletherapy sessions today.