Mental health care often mirrors broader social hierarchies, where therapists may unconsciously wield power over clients. Cultural humility challenges this by encouraging an examination of privilege and positionality.
Providers must consider how their own race, class, gender, and education affect the therapeutic space. Failing to do so can perpetuate inequality and alienate clients from marginalized backgrounds.
Ethically, therapists have a responsibility to acknowledge and mitigate power imbalances. This might mean sharing decision-making, being transparent about diagnoses, or adjusting communication styles to suit client needs.
Cultural humility transforms ethics from a static code to a living practice—one that continually asks, “Am I showing up in a way that honors this person’s humanity?”
Kanishka