Uncovering Bias in One s Professional Therapy Service

Responses Family Therapy Posts

Mindi,

Thank you for your thoughtful post on cultural competence in therapy. I thought the emphasis you put on respecting clients\\\\\\\' cultural beliefs and adapting communication styles was particularly pertinent, especially for trying to create effective therapeutic relationships. I myself have found that through a basic of understanding social constructs, as you mentioned, we can add another layer of depth to the practice of relating to others and empathizing more fully. Social constructs are often responsible for how we see ourselves and how we see others. If we know them, it is easier to get a sense of how others see themselves and how they would like to be seen. Oftentimes people will not say, “This is how I see myself,” or, “This is how I want to be seen,” so it is up to the therapist to figure that out based on cues and constructs. That is why they can be so helpful.

At the same time, I would say to be on guard against any potential biases. Biases can arise from one’s own culture and we need to be aware of that. We don’t want to misinterpret something because of personal biases that we aren’t being mindful of in that particular moment of professional service.