What is Cross-Cultural Counseling?

Simply put, cross-cultural counseling is therapy for people from different cultures. The need and ideas are not new. Cross-cultural therapy is finally emerging in the field of psychotherapy. As our world becomes more interconnected, the need for cross-cultural therapy becomes more important. Cross-cultural counseling recognizes the huge impact culture has on people. Whether individual or couples, the goal is to unpack and address the many cultural factors that have shaped who you are as a person, your experiences, and what you believe. 

Cross-cultural counseling pays special attention to how culture plays a role in the following:

• Emotions – vulnerability, openness, and expression as well as healthy vs. unhealthy emotions
• Communication style – especially in uncomfortable situations or in times of conflict 
• Family and social relationships 
• Personality – which aspects are influenced by and tied to the individual’s culture
• Child-development – environment, parental attachment and its effect on mental health 
• Relationships -family, social and romantic 

In cross-cultural counseling, the therapist assesses, understands, and/or evaluates a client’s behavior in that client’s cultural context where those behaviors were learned and displayed. Because all behavior is learned and displayed in a cultural context we could venture to say that all therapy is cross-cultural. However, cross-cultural therapy places careful emphasis on culture in a way that other forms of therapy do not. And therefore, it is better suited for people who identify as having a culture outside of the mainstream or for people whose culture was more extreme.

How Does Culture Affect Counseling?

Someone’s culture can greatly impact how they approach and participate in counseling. There is a general stigma around therapy, and it is much more prevalent amongst diverse populations and people outside of mainstream culture. 

Culture plays a big role in therapy because culture influences our worldview. Every person is in and of some culture. Culture affects our language, how we dress, communicate, and interact with people. Culture is tied to our beliefs on religion and spirituality, gender identity and gender roles, education, and so much more. Culture shapes our decisions about nearly everything. It affects our stance on relationship issues such as monogamy, child-rearing, intimacy, self-expression and communication, living together, and the roles in the home.

Why is Cross-Cultural and Multicultural Counseling Important?

The one-size-fits-all model is not always appropriate, especially in today’s world. Our population is becoming more and more diverse. People from more diverse populations are seeking therapy. It’s important that therapists are able to meet all clients with appropriate tools for growth. 

Multicultural counseling means access to therapy for all. It means providing numerous channels for clients to access therapy, whether it’s in person, on the phone, through emails and texts, or through video conferencing. 

What is Therapy for Cross-Cultural Couples

Therapy for cross-cultural couples aims to bridge the gap between couples who come from different cultures. Therapy for cross-cultural couples can help couples step outside the confines of their respective cultural identities to see each other with greater clarity. By listening to each other’s stories with patience and curiosity, and in an objective setting with a therapist,  a new level of understanding may be reached. Meeting your partner with empathy, grace, and curiosity, obstacles can be overcome and you’re able to move behind your differences. The goal is to see each other as individuals and to accept their differences as positives that make their relationship richer and stronger.

Why is Cross-Cultural Counseling Important?

The number of cross-cultural couples has greatly increased in recent years. 17 percent of U.S. newlyweds in 2015 were married to someone of a different race or ethnicity from their own, according to the analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pew Research Center. This is a significant rise from what it was about 50 years ago, only 3 percent. 

What Does Therapy for Cross-Cultural Couples Help With?

With cross-cultural couples, the differences in background, beliefs, habits, and opinions are wider. Each person has to give up a little of their own culture and accept and adopt the other person’s. Cross-cultural couples have unique challenges to deal with. Different cultures mean a dramatically different backgrounds. These differences naturally create more difficulties for the couple.  Cross-cultural relationship counseling can help couples become more open-minded and accepting of each other’s culture. 

Cross-cultural therapy can help with these common issues that couples face:

• Judgment or lack of support: Cross-cultural couples sometimes have to deal with people who are unaccepting of their relationship. If close friends or family are unsupportive, it causes tension and conflict for the couple. 

• Conflicting cultural identities: Our thoughts, ideas, personality, and behavior are all shaped by the culture we grew up in. When there are differences in fundamental beliefs, traditions, and values, it can be a deal breaker for couples.

• Religious differences: Differences in religion or spirituality can be especially difficult in the context of marriage, wedding planning, and raising children. 

• Different parenting goals and expectations: Oftentimes when you come from different cultures it means you have different parenting goals and ideas about the roles of each parent. 

• Loss of identity: Some compromise is healthy, but cross-cultural couples may have to give up more than what’s comfortable for them. Maybe they moved far from home, converted to another religion, stopped speaking their native language, etc. This can cause an array of emotions such as sadness, anger, or resentment.   

• Relationships with in-laws and extended family members: In some traditional cultures, family is at the center. If you’re in a committed relationship with someone with strong family-oriented beliefs, it’s likely that their family members will be intertwined in your everyday life. It may even be expected that their parents or another elderly family member live with you. Your partner may want their parents, siblings and extended family to be involved in your relationship issues. More modern cultures might find this uncomfortable and inappropriate, setting off a slew of issues between you, your partner, and their family. 

Is Cross-Cultural Counseling and Multicultural Counseling the Same? 

While multicultural and cross-cultural are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same. When it comes to therapy, both multicultural and cross-cultural look at the person (or persons) through a cultural lens. 

Multicultural therapy considers the different factors that affect racial, ethnic, and other types of minorities, including historical oppression and its effects on society. Multicultural counseling characterizes the approach to counseling that offers effective interventions to culturally diverse clients. Race, ethnicity, and cultural background may influence a client’s identity and life circumstances. Other factors, such as gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, religion, and ability may also play into the context of a given client’s mental health, and relational or personal issues.

What Does a Competent Cross-Cultural Therapist Look Like?

A culturally competent cross-cultural therapist (and all therapists for that matter) considers all aspects of a client’s worldview when selecting the appropriate treatment plan for a client. They tailor their approach to be particularly sensitive to each client’s unique values and beliefs. They are especially mindful of the following: 

• Therapeutic approach. They try to be knowledgeable about their client’s attitudes and beliefs about the counseling process in order to select appropriate interventions.
• Communication. They try to be cognizant of societal figures of speech and phrases that could act as possible triggers. Cultural contexts as well as culture-specific verbal and nonverbal aspects (i.e. gestures, body language, personal space, etc.) of communication are considered during every interaction.
• Self-awareness. They are sensitive to their own inherent racial or cultural identity and privilege, ethnocentrism, prejudice, and stereotypes when interacting with clients. They are always aware of how their own attitudes, racial identity, and beliefs impact their client.
• Flexibility. They are willing to acknowledge the limitations of their own cultural competency and expertise when working with clients

Take the Next Step

As our world becomes more interconnected, the need for cross-cultural therapy becomes more important. Cross-cultural couple therapists recognize the extra hurdles you must go through to sustain a happy, healthy long-term relationship. They know it can seem like the odds are stacked against you. That’s why they exist to help you and your partner bridge the gap. 

The Couples Center’s therapists are trained to help clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Connect with one of The Couples Center’s experienced therapists who can help you build bridges to one another. You’ll receive the direction you need that will allow you to embrace your differences and come together like never before.