Culture as Clinical Context: A Reflection for AANHPI Heritage Month
This month is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. When looking at a world map, the cultures represented within Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities span nearly one-third of the geographic regions. Rather than focusing solely on AANHPI communities, I would like to highlight how culture broadly influences the field of psychology.
Human behavior is shaped not only by genetics, but also by the environments and communities people are surrounded by. Culture is one of the most important components of psychological care. Although culture includes many dimensions - such as nationality, geography, socioeconomic status, family systems, religion, and more, this blog will primarily focus on ethnocultural background.
Culture influences how people perceive and interact with the world. For example, Japanese culture is often characterized by a more collectivist perspective rather than an individualistic one, with a strong emphasis on tradition and long-established customs. These cultural influences shape individuals’ experiences and can affect cognition and behavior differently from those shaped within many Western cultural frameworks.
Statistically, approximately 50 percent of mental health providers in the United States identified as Caucasian in 2022 (American Psychological Association, 2024). Historically, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities were frequently excluded from psychological research. In addition, depending on the cultural community, stigma surrounding mental health support may still discourage individuals from seeking care. Together, these factors can create significant barriers for BIPOC individuals in accessing mental health services. Furthermore, some therapeutic models widely used today were developed primarily within White populations, despite drawing from concepts and practices rooted in BIPOC communities. As a result, many individuals from BIPOC backgrounds may struggle to see themselves represented within the field of psychology.
As a profession, we must continue to acknowledge these disparities and commit ourselves to ongoing education informed by authentic and diverse voices. Practicing cultural humility in our everyday work is essential to supporting clients holistically and effectively. If you are passionate about cultural equity in psychology, your voice and advocacy are needed.
To ensure that more individuals have access to culturally competent mental health support, it is essential to recognize mental health care as a healthcare necessity. By continuing to raise awareness about cultural disparities within psychology, meaningful and lasting change can happen more quickly.
Community Resources
NAMI Seattle – They provide links for community resources in WA state and online for BIPOC communities. BIPOC Mental Health Resources | NAMI Seattle
Mental Health America – This link gives you some informative facts about BIPOC mental health. BIPOC Mental Health | Mental Health America
References
Stamm, K. et al. (2024). Progress in psychology degrees earner underrepresented racial identities. American Psychological Association. Datapoint: Progress in psychology degrees earned by underrepresented racial identities