2 results for tag: Cultural Competency Mental Health Professionals

The Future Of Mental Health Treatment

I think most people would agree that the mental health system is not serving our communities in a an effective way. Individuals can be treated as a "problem" or "defective/broken". Couples are often seen as failures. Families, especially parents, get judged and belittled. Where is the compassion or  understanding? Why are most therapists, clinicians and counselors more concerned about charging a rate that "respects their self-value" than considering their clients ability to receive services without adding undo stress due to prohibitive costs, or not even being able to afford the fees at all? Then there is the whole insurance industry!!!
Holistic counselors, therapists, social workers and psychologists offer respite from the mainstream mental health system, and, we still often do not meet the need of our clients. There are so many variables that contribute to mental and emotional challenges including diet, sleep/rest, exercise, "the gut", the nervous system, trauma(s), finances, work, school, relationships, environment, sensory issues, childhood attachments or lack of attachments, etc. We share so many common characteristic and experiences as humans but our specific journeys are incredibly complex and unique, therefore, treatments needs to be unique to the individual, couple or family....

Cultural Competency & 7 Things You Should Expect from a Mental Health Professional

I am incredibly grateful for the experiences of working with the Urban League for several years. The National Urban League works to provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in America. I had the opportunity to work with and be supervised by many excellent social workers, community organizers and counselors that trained me in culturally competency as a mental health professional and social worker. Of course,  there is always more to learn. There are so many different cultures, religions and sub-cultures both here in the United Sates and around the world, it is impossible to truly achieve cultural competency. However, we can continue to learn and grow to support our communities to the best of our ability. Cultural competency is a process. not a static destination.

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