Mental health professionals have long been trained in “cultural competence,” a concept that suggests one can master knowledge about other cultures. While well-intentioned, this approach can be limiting. It risks promoting stereotypes or assuming that once a culture is “understood,” the work is complete.
Cultural humility, by contrast, is dynamic and ever-evolving. It asks therapists to remain open, adaptable, and aware of their own cultural lens. This ongoing process supports greater nuance in understanding clients, especially in multicultural or immigrant populations where identities are fluid.
Therapists practicing humility are better equipped to notice when their worldview is clouding their clinical judgment. Rather than relying on textbook definitions of culture, they engage directly with the client’s own meaning-making process. This allows for more authentic, individualized care.
Shifting from competence to humility is not about discarding knowledge; it’s about contextualizing it. It means knowing when to speak and when to listen—and above all, recognizing that the client is the expert of their own story.
Kanishka