Graduate programs often emphasize cultural competence but may not sufficiently train students in cultural humility. This leaves emerging therapists with a toolbox of facts but few skills for navigating cultural complexity.
Cultural humility training should involve self-reflection, exposure to diverse narratives, and critical discussions about power and identity. Supervision must also model humility—showing that even seasoned professionals are always learning.
Case studies, role plays, and community immersion projects are effective ways to teach this skill. Real growth occurs when students are challenged to confront their biases and discomfort.
Embedding cultural humility in early education sets a foundation for more ethical, responsive, and adaptive therapists. It shifts the focus from “knowing” to “becoming.”
Kanishka