How Does Cultural Sensitivity Affect The Role of an Art Therapist?
As an art therapist, cultural sensitivity is extremely important. We all come from different backgrounds, values and belief systems, and providing a safe space free of judgement is crucial to creating an effective support system. However, we are all human and mistakes do happen. Art therapists need to be open, understanding and responsible for their actions, because it teaches clients to adapt a similar awareness to others. To dive deeper into this timely topic of cultural sensitivity, we spoke with Clinical Director, Lindsay Lederman, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, ATCS to gain greater insight. Read our interview below:
How does cultural sensitivity play a role in the field of art therapy?
Therapists are people, too, with their own values and belief systems just like our clients. Both the art therapist and client have a different set of cultural norms that they bring into the space. As a therapist, it’s crucial for me to educate myself on different backgrounds. Most therapists are required to take a multicultural issues course during their graduate school training, however, most of the learning happens when you enter the actual practice of working with clients. An effective therapist is curious and open to learning about other individuals’ experiences. Instead of wondering why someone behaves a certain way, the therapist asks “What is this person’s experience?”
When your clients bring up social and political topics, how do you guide the conversation?
In my sessions, I want to explore the underlying feelings and thoughts that arise in our socio-political climate, rather than ideologies. For example, some of my clients were very vocal about their concerns with the anti-immigration laws. As their therapist, it’s my job to focus on what these events represent and help unpack the underlying fears and frustration. This encourages the conversation to address each individual’s experiences versus the policies.
How does the socio-political climate connect with your clients’ personal traumas?
I started here in 2017 when the #MeToo Movement had just started. I remember the morning after the Matt Lauer allegations came out and people in my group shared stories about their own sexual trauma for the first time, which became a powerful moment. Even though their experiences were traumatic and incredibly difficult, the existing safety in the group allowed them to come together and see that they aren’t alone in it. With today’s issues, you can see that more people are being held accountable and those who are survivors are feeling safer to speak up. As more of these issues are addressed publicly, we are hopeful that clients feel safe in sharing their experiences with each other to support their recovery process.
Has there ever been a time when you said something that misaligned with a client’s experience? What did you take away from that?
One incident happened during my first year of internship. I worked at an Adolescent Day Program on milieu, which means I was stationed in the hallways to provide five-minute crisis interventions with kids who needed support during class. This was intended to help them process their emotions in the moment, which in turn would help them return to the classroom. There was one student who became very agitated during the five-minute intervention and I said while pointing at the door, “You have to get back to class!” And he responded, “Do you think I'm a dog? Why are you pointing?” And I remember feeling so horrible, because that was not what I meant at all.
That was a cultural difference, because for me that gesture meant nothing, but to him it was very demeaning. After that experience, I learned that I have to be very mindful of not just my verbal communications, but also the connotations that come with certain gestures and mannerisms.
Therapists are people and we're not perfect, but we have to be mindful of what we say and do. And when we do mess up, we should be able to apologize, take ownership and ask for forgiveness. That shows your clients you're a person who is taking responsibility and saying that their needs matter -- as opposed to getting defensive or dismissive. Repairing is really important if incidents like that occur.
Many people believe that if they want to seek out mental health care, they need to find a therapist who shares their ethnicity or background. What's your opinion on this?
I think there are several advantages to seeing a therapist from the same ethnicity or background. There's a shared understanding in the relationship that would not be so intrinsic if the therapist was of another background. It can also be validating to see a therapist who looks like you. However, there can be wonderful work that's done with someone from a different background. Regardless, there’s a ‘shared repair’ that can happen on both sides. People should seek out a good therapist and who would be a good match for them, and who they believe will be the most effective for their treatment needs.
How can a novice therapist work to become more culturally competent?
Self-awareness and honesty are crucial. I believe that all therapists should be in therapy and have adequate supervision.
Therapy allows therapists to process their own biases. We all have preconceived notions about people when we meet them, whether positive or negative, especially people from different backgrounds. If the biases are never acknowledged, they can come out in treatment and have a negative impact on their relationships with clients.
Supervision and therapy are equally important. Therapy helps clinicians explore their personal history and issues, while supervision acknowledges and addresses issues that come up within the therapeutic relationship. If a therapist caught themselves responding harshly to a client, they would discuss that with their supervisor. Supervisors ask therapists the hard questions to help them work through those difficult client interactions. For example, supervisors will ask, “What were you reacting to when the client said that?” “How does that client’s comment relate to who you are and your background?” “Why do you think that came out?” “Why did you react that way?” “And how will you repair that?”
Therapy and supervision offer different lenses, but therapists need both components to address our own traumas or biases so we can provide a safe space for people to be themselves. At The Art Therapy Project, we provide supervision for all of our 14 art therapists and believe it’s important to also offer a space for clinicians to check-in, reflect and address any issues they may be dealing with.