Cultural Competence in Mental Health Treatment Essay

Trimbles chapter on pagan Sensitivity and Cultural Competence brings a number of questions to mind, the most important of which seems to be the hobby Are psychologists expected to know ab stunned all polishs or ethnicities in the United States today? Multi heathenish blood line substance is expected to rise students understanding of different cultures before they enter the work bureau. All the same, it is virtually unattainable for a psychologist to learn about(predicate) all cultures that he or she would be interacting with in the course of his or her c befulnesser.I would love to believe that the legs of heathenish competence development end with heathenish blindness (Trimble). Nevertheless, I light up the importance of understanding all possible cultures that I would be interacting with during the course of my career as a psychologist. I mustiness reach the stage of ethnic proficiency (Trimble). As a matter of fact, I had a vague understanding of this goal even before I had charter Trimbles chapter on cultural competency. For this reason I had begun to read and lookout man movies about unusual cultures several courses back.Needless to say, it amazes me that people from conflicting cultures hold beliefs that are some beats very different from my own. Moreover, it strengthens my belief that psychologists must understand the different cultures that they interact with. In my opinion, empathy on the damp of the psychologist is the frontmost requirement in a therapeutic relationship. At the same time, however, it is mop up to me that psychologists who understand different cultures would be especially empathetic to people who compensate those cultures. As an example, Hispanic psychologists may be especially empathetic toward their Latino clients.Furthermore, the job description of a psychologist cannot admit discrimination, racism, or prejudices. After all, moral health is a requirement of all people. Yet another take exception pose d by diversity is that of different moral codes that have been adoptive by different cultures and/or races. While multicultural course content could go a long way in helping the psychologist accept the challenges of diversity, it is crucial for psychologists who are introduced to new cultures for the first time to converse their clients on the basis of their cultural beliefs in the first instance.I state this with assurance based on experience, as I have had the opportunity to question an individual whose belief system I could never have apprehended if I had not asked her questions relevant to her culture. It was important to ask questions relevant to her culture be showcase it was possible for me to consider that her thought patterns needed serious reordering if I was not aware that her thought patterns actually stemmed from different cultural beliefs altogether.Hence, it was vital to frame the reference questions such that the interviewee would be allowed to explain her cult ural beliefs while describing her problem. A Case Study The following is an move out from an interview report to overlook more light on the importance of cultural competence in the psychologists career. Mrs. A (2007) is a 69 year old Pakistani lady settled with her sons family in the United States. She has been a green card holder for the past sextette years. During an interview, she reported having had no problem whatsoever with the American health care system.After all, both her son and daughter-in-law are doctors. Mrs. A suffers severe falloff from time to time. In her opinion, it is genetic. From the time she entered the United States, her family has helped her cope with the unsoundness by ensuring that she had access to the doctors whenever required, in addition to medication. According to the senior immigrant, the attitude that her family has shown toward her illness in a foreign land is, indeed, praiseworthy. This is how families from my part of the world are meant to b ehave, she adds.She further believes that it is her family alone that she can rely on in the foreign land. In the Indo-Pak culture, an individual must be protected and provided for by his or her family. Women must be cared for by their husbands and sons. Single women have no place in our culture, Mrs. A reported. Individualism is replaced by collectivism, as Mrs. A would same her family to look after her interests at all times. In exchange for the time and energy that she has invested in her family thus far, Mrs.A expects help from her family in times of need. She worries, however, that her family would not be able to meet her needs all of the time. As a matter of fact, the possibility that her family might one day summon itself impotent in terms of helping her out is a cause of anxiety for the lady. The intense level of anxiety felt by Mrs. A often translates into severe depression. Even though Mrs. A has a openhanded number of friends across the United States, she believes tha t it is shameful to depend upon friends in side of family.This belief is also culture-ingrained, seeing that the Americans do not believe that it is mortifying to ask friends for help. Mrs. A visits her friends quite often, and they visit her too. All the same, they cannot root out the anxiety that lurks in the back of her mind that, in fact, it is possible for her to be left without family to take care of her needs, whether they are financial or health care needs. The anxiety is intensified by Mrs. As restore that the American value system might abruptly change the Muslim-ingrained set of her son and daughter-in-law.Also according to her, it is widely believed in her own part of the world that the American children have no respect for their elders. Parents are move over to nursing homes and we would never do that she stated. Conclusion As the excerpt from Mrs. As interview report suggests, it is essential for psychologists to learn about their clients thought patterns and bel ief systems through interviews with questions that are especially framed to shed light on the clients thought patterns and belief systems in relation to their cultures.No doubt, cultural proficiency is essential in the psychologists career (Trimble). For this reason, the psychologist must conduct research to find out about all cultures that he or she may be interacting with. Even so, the value of the first interview cannot be discounted in terms of learning about the clients culture. References Mrs. A. (2007). Personal Interview. Trimble, J. E. Chapter 3 Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Competence.