
Different cultures, even when they are as similar as American and European, have vastly different outlooks on medicine and on what is emphasized. For example, compared with Americans, the French are healthier overall, they focus on the health of the liver more, and they are more casual about dirt and germs.
Full Answer
What is cultural difference in therapy?
Some people think that cultural difference is about coming from a faraway country or belonging to an ethnic minority group. In reality, culture is so ubiquitous that even therapy has its own culture; in fact one that, for many people new to it, is shocking to start with.
Do we need to be better at treating people from other cultures?
We do need, however, to be - think broadly in terms of the types of treatment for people from other cultures, other ways in which they might be able to speak of and get help for the issues that they're dealing with.
Why is it important to understand the differences between cultures?
An understanding of these differences might well lead people to take a different or more comprehensive approach to their own health, to their benefit. Different cultures, even when they are as similar as American and European, have vastly different outlooks on medicine and on what is emphasized.
How do you deal with patients from other cultures?
According to an article that I read about dealing with patients from other cultures, the best approach is to treat the medical process as like solving a problem by working alongside the patient and his/her family.

How does culture affect treatment?
It affects perceptions of health, illness and death, beliefs about causes of disease, approaches to health promotion, how illness and pain are experienced and expressed, where patients seek help, and the types of treatment patients prefer.
How do you treat cultural differences?
How to Manage a Multicultural TeamOvercome Language and Cultural Barriers. ... Consider Different Cultural Communication Styles. ... Plan Projects Around Different Time Zones. ... Allow Prep Time Whenever Your Team Needs It. ... Be Open to All Cultures and Their Differences. ... Organize a Cross-Cultural Training. ... Avoid Stereotypes.More items...•
How can culture affect diagnosis and treatment?
Culture significantly impacts various aspects of mental health including the perception of health and illness, treatment-seeking behaviour and coping styles. As such, simplified mainstreaming of mental health approaches may not cater to the needs of a culturally diverse population from different communities.
How cultural differences can impact the effectiveness of therapy?
Cultural differences allow us to gain a broader perspective of the client in psychotherapy. This should be used to inform the development of interventions by basing them on the necessities of the populations and the individuals within these different populations.
What are examples of cultural differences?
Nine national cultural value differencesIndividualism vs. Collectivism. ... Power Distance. In high Power Distance societies, hierarchical systems of assigned roles organise behaviour. ... Uncertainty Avoidance. ... Orientation to Time. ... Gender Egalitarianism. ... Assertiveness. ... Being vs. ... Humane Orientation.More items...•
What is the best way to manage conflicts based on cultural differences?
The best way to resolve or handle cultural conflict is by learning about other cultures. Organizations work in diverse environments. This gives people the opportunity to interact regardless of culture (Wang, 2018).
How does culture influence diagnosis?
Understanding symptoms. Culture can influence how people describe and feel about their symptoms. It can affect whether someone chooses to recognize and talk about only physical symptoms, only emotional symptoms or both.
How can culture affect diagnosis?
Cultures may influence and contribute to the causation of mental illnesses, mould symptoms, render certain sub-groups more vulnerable as well as modify beliefs and explanations of illnesses. This demonstrates that cultural beliefs and values represent a crucial factor in mental illness.
How does culture affect treatment of depression?
One of the main differences seen across cultures is the way anxiety and depression is expressed. Someone from a culture where it is common to know psychological terms, could easily describe anxiety and depression using those specific words. In other cultures, other words might be more common.
How do cultural barriers affect therapy?
Barriers to cross-cultural counseling can negatively influence the counseling relationship as well as the outcome of counseling. The literature has even linked these cultural barriers to the underutilization and premature termination of counseling services by ethnic minorities and low-income persons.
Why is cultural diversity important in counseling?
People from different cultural backgrounds often have very different lived realities. These differences influence not only the types of mental health issues that a person experiences but also their perception of and relationship to counseling.
What are cultural considerations in therapy?
Culturally sensitive therapy emphasizes the therapist's understanding of a client's background, ethnicity, and belief system. Therapists can incorporate cultural sensitivity into their work to accommodate and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes of various cultures and different types of people.
What are the differences between cultures?
One of the main differences seen across cultures is the way anxiety and depression is expressed . Someone from a culture where it is common to know psychological terms, could easily describe anxiety and depression using those specific words. In other cultures, other words might be more common.
Does culture affect anxiety?
May 15, 2019. Influences of Cultural Differences in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression. Share. No. Culture affects the way we express our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. It is therefore not surprising that there are cultural differences in the way anxiety and depression is manifested and treated.
What is the belief that mental illness is borne out of a disruption in the family?
The belief that mental illness is borne out of a disruption in the family is a theme that cuts across racial/ethnic lines for the three racial/ethnic minority groups in this study. For the Asian-Americans and the Latinos, however, the narrative of family disruption or loss of family may have its roots in migration.
Do Latinos seek treatment?
Latinos who are seeking treatment may be more willing to use other forms of treatment. Furthermore, the study participants consist of older primary care patients who have consented to be in a research study in which they are randomized to integrated mental health treatment or referral to specialty mental health care.
What are the routines of a culture?
Everyday routines that the predominant culture takes for granted such as time orientation, eye contact, touch, decision-making, compliments, health-beliefs, health-care practices, personal space, modesty, and non-verbal communication can vary dramatically between cultures, sub-cultures, and religions.
What is the trend in healthcare?
The trend in health care is to allow for more liberty in patient choices and involvement, as well as the ability to carry out their normal practices as much as possible.
