Mindfulness Techniques to Promote Culturally Appropriate Engagement

Contextualizing clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and groups in Northern British Columbia

“…Cultural humility is the ability to acknowledge other cultures as they relate to our own and to engage in self-reflexivity to recognize and challenge one's biases and knowledge of other cultures (Hook & Davis, 2019;Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018;Stewart, 2009). Cultural humility requires humbleness to understand and acknowledge that one cannot be an expert in other people's culture and that one's cultural experiences are not superior to those of others (Hook & Davis, 2019;Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018;Stewart, 2009). Prince George is a culturally diverse city.…”

“…When working with clients from different cultural backgrounds than mine, it is necessary for me to be humble and respectful of cultural differences to ensure clients feel heard and validated (Hook & Davis, 2019;Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018;Stewart, 2009). Research suggests that when social workers are aware of their own cultural backgrounds and biases, this awareness increases their cultural sensitivity to clients from diverse cultural backgrounds (Chao, 2012;Hook & Davis, 2019;Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018) When working with clients in a clinical social work setting, cultural humility is essential to create therapeutic relationships and clients' sense of safety (Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018;Stewart, 2009). As practitioners, we need to understand that we cannot become competent in other people's cultures.…”

“…As practitioners, we need to understand that we cannot become competent in other people's cultures. ; however, we can create a safe space in which clients become genuinely expressive about their experiences (Hook & Davis, 2019;Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018;Stewart, 2009). Cultural humility creates space for a holistic approach to therapeutic healing (Hook & Davis, 2019;Stewart, 2009).…”

“…In therapy, being grounded in cultural humility enables making space for clients to explore and integrate their cultural practices in the intervention process (Stewart, 2009). As social workers in clinical practice, we need to strive to embody cultural humility because it improves clients' therapeutic experiences and progress (Hook & Davis, 2019;Hook et al, 2013;Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018).…”

“…Without cultural humility, clinicians are more likely to be blind to their biases. When counsellors have cultural biases, they may surface in the counselling context in the form of microaggressions (Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018). Experiences with microaggressions are associated with clients terminating therapy early (Perera-Diltz & Greenidge, 2018).…”