How Mental Health Clinicians Can Address Issues of Diversity with Incarcerated Individuals

Abstract

Mental Health Clinicians are accustomed to being confronted with not only difficult situations, but difficult conversations. Although discussing issues of diversity can be challenging, these dialogues are vital to the therapeutic process. In order to work under a multicultural framework, a clinician must minimally have basic knowledge on the culture of the client(s) being treated. Therapists are to use culturally appropriate intervention strategies and be mindful of the rules of the client’s culture. It is advised to work with the client(s) to define their culture, what it means to them, and what it means to society. It is the duty of a clinician to exemplify this for clients and give clients the power, permission, and invitation that they may believe they need, to do the same. This article discusses issues of diversity in the incarcerated system, clarifies the clinician’s role, and empowers clinicians to utilize multicultural techniques in treatment.