Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity describes a lifetime process, which includes (a) understanding how culture shapes our beliefs, values, attitudes, and traditions; (b) being aware that as cultural beings, we interact with others whose beliefs, values, attitudes, and traditions may be different from our own and should be respected; and (c) engaging in ongoing self-reflection to understand how our cultural views may affect our work. It is one’s ethical responsibility to reflect on and incorporate cultural considerations during the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a client, especially when working with culturally diverse populations. This entry discusses self-reflection of how one is shaped by culture and concludes with cultural considerations while working with others.