How can an IAPT service increase its cultural sensitivity?

Roy‐Chowdhury, Sim

doi:10.53841/bpscpf.2013.1.241.45

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Aggarwal et al, 2016;Mohamed and Lowenthal, 2009). Therapists worried about dismissing service user cultural and religious views, and questioned whether Western notions of therapy were appropriate for BAME clients (Roy-Chowdhury, 2013). Some service users externalised their problems by using somatic symptoms and held beliefs in witchcraft, black magic and spiritual possessions (Kirmayer, 2001;Mallinson and Popay, 2007;Mohamed and Lowenthal, 2009).…”

Section: Encountering Cultural Dissonance Within Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, Western psychological practices are rooted in a universal rhetoric that favours individualistic value systems over cultural particularism (Fenn and Byrne, 2013;Frese et al, 2001;Rogers, 2009). Typically, Western psychotherapy and clinical training programmes are developed from a Eurocentric gaze, which means that cultural diversity and inclusivity tends to be absent from traditional theory, procedures and practices (Kirmayer, 2012;Roy-Chowdhury, 2013;Sue et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘It’s been quite a poor show’ – exploring whether practitioners working for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services are culturally competent to deal with the needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities

Faheem

2023

tCBT

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Cultural competency is a core clinical skill. Yet, psychological therapists may be inadequately trained to deal with the needs of service users from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. This can lead to dissatisfaction with mental health services, disengagement from therapy, and poorer treatment outcomes when compared to the White British population. The aim of this study was to explore whether practitioners working for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services are culturally competent to deal with the needs of diverse communities. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a range of practitioners, from early career psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs) to senior cognitive behavioural therapists (n=16). Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) was used to analyse the data, guided by a six-phase process to produce a robust pattern-based analysis. Overall, three themes were generated: (1) encountering cultural dissonance within therapy; (2) challenges in making cultural adaptations to therapy; and (3) identifying cultural competency needs. Out of sixteen participants, only nine therapists received one-day formal training throughout their therapeutic career, whilst seven reported receiving no cultural competence training at all. Overall, it appears that there is an urgent need and desire for therapists to be offered cultural competency training so that they can better serve BAME communities. Clinical implications and future recommendations are made. Key learning aims (1) To briefly introduce cross-cultural theoretical models that may assist mental health professionals to think critically about Western notions of therapy and whether they are suited to the needs of ethnic minority communities. (2) To consider challenges IAPT practitioners encounter during therapy and identify examples of good practice. (3) To explore to what extent IAPT practitioners feel culturally competent to deal with the needs of BAME communities. (4) To encourage IAPT services and decision makers (e.g. training bodies and commissioners) to enhance cultural competence training so that practitioners can better serve ethnic minority communities.

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Section: Encountering Cultural Dissonance Within Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It’s been quite a poor show’ – exploring whether practitioners working for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services are culturally competent to deal with the needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities

Faheem

2023

tCBT

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Talking about race, culture and racism in family therapy

Roy‐Chowdhury

2021

Journal of Family Therapy

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Family therapy practice in the UK, as elsewhere in the world, takes place within the context of structural and systemic racism. Hence the practice of family therapy has the potential to mirror racist and colonialist tropes found within society. There are low levels of satisfaction by people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds to the level of sensitivity to culture and racism that takes place in therapy. This paper explores ways a systemic psychotherapy might be more sensitive to differences in race and culture. Drawing upon systemic and anthropological constructions of culture, suggestions are made for practice that is more questioning of the barely conscious or unconscious assumptions made by the therapist, which can then lead to open scrutiny of these assumptions. In doing so, I draw upon my own experiences, and those of my own family, of racism, of culture and of movement across cultures. Structural racism in society will find its way into the therapy room unless therapists are open to an examination of their own prejudices and often unconscious assumptions. Such an examination then opens the way to forms of practice that are more sensitive to differences of race and culture. A form of practice more sensitive to race and culture is proposed as a systemic response to racism, whilst keeping in mind the need for change at a social and political level.

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How can an IAPT service increase its cultural sensitivity?

Abstract: It has been a challenge to IAPT services to deliver psychological therapies that are accessible to all sections of the local community and that are culturally sensitive. This paper makes use of experience in Newham in offering some suggestions for working toward this aspiration.

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

‘It’s been quite a poor show’ – exploring whether practitioners working for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services are culturally competent to deal with the needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities

‘It’s been quite a poor show’ – exploring whether practitioners working for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services are culturally competent to deal with the needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities

Talking about race, culture and racism in family therapy

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