Diagnostic frameworks like the DSM are rooted in Western psychology and may not fully capture the experiences of culturally diverse clients. Cultural humility invites clinicians to question the universality of diagnostic criteria.
For example, religious visions might be labeled as psychosis in one context, but revered in another. Without cultural understanding, this can lead to misdiagnosis, stigmatization, or inappropriate treatment.
By approaching diagnosis with humility, clinicians are more likely to explore the client’s cultural meaning behind behaviors. This process can include cultural formulation interviews or consultations with cultural brokers.
Accurate diagnosis is about more than matching symptoms—it’s about contextualizing human experience. Cultural humility ensures that context is never ignored.
Kanishka