Beliefs as Barriers

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• Past experience
  • Most counselors are not from minority groups, so a cultural/ethnic mismatch between counselor and client often occurs. A poor match can lead someone to quit therapy early and believe it does not work.
  • More Black and Latino/a individuals report feeling disrespected or looked down upon by their provider than White individuals
  • Historically, Black individuals have been misdiagnosed more often than White individuals.
  • Many immigrants come from communities with little experience with mental health counseling and therefore may not understand its potential value.
• Family or personal attitudes
  • Different cultural groups hold different values regarding mental health and how to address it. It is important to talk with the caregiver regarding how they feel about this sensitive topic. This may include having conversations about family values, experiences of people in their lives who have lived with mental illness, or other life events and cultural beliefs that shape personal attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking.
  • Many Americans believe that depression reflects personal weakness. This perspective is even more common among Black individuals.
  • Fewer Black and Latino/a individuals find medication acceptable than White individuals.
• Privacy and stigma
  • Different cultural groups value privacy in different ways. Some may believe that mental health challenges should not be discussed openly, and therapy may therefore not be a commonly used option. Stigma associated with mental health help-seeking is common in many cultures but stronger in some groups. In your conversations with caregivers, it is important to acknowledge these beliefs.
  • In some cultures, individuals will not open up to one another unless a personal relationship has been developed. For these individuals, a professional identity as a “therapist” or “counselor” holds little value by itself for building trust and rapport.