Suggestions for Clinical Practice
How Can Clinicians Practice Counter-storytelling
in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment ?
Establish a Safe Space
Clinicians should establish a safe a trusting space where clients feel safe to share their experiences, including any stigma or racialized experiences they may have encountered. Creating a safe space allows clients to be open and honest about their feelings and experiences.​
Empower Clients
Clinicians should actively listen to clients to understand their perspectives and experiences. Encourage clients to freely share their stories without imposing judgement.
Acknowledge Systemic Inequities and Show Empathy
Clinicians should recognize and understand the impact of a client's experiences. Acknowledge the impact of racial trauma and systemic inequities that may have contributed to the client's substance use and mental health problems, and validate their lived experiences.
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Reframe and Challenge Negative Views
Clinicians should encourage clients to change their narrative and challenge negative self-views and stereotypes by helping them gain insight into their strengths and goals. Clinicians should also empower clients to advocate for themselves.
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Clinicians should collaborate with clients when making decisions about their treatment. Clients should be involved in the treatment planning process. The client's narrative should be used to inform treatment plan goals, and to develop coping and relapse prevention skills.
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Clinicians should use interventions that are culturally sensitive and responsive. Clinicians are encouraged to incorporate the client's beliefs, norms, and values in treatment and discharge planning.
Culturally Responsive Care
Collaborate with Clients
See how knowledge and experience in CRT and counter-storytelling is illustrated in a case study here.
Practice Cultural Humility
Practicing cultural humility can give clinicians an understanding of cultural differences and aids in recognizing the individuality of each client, which promotes better treatment outcomes for disadvantaged populations (Leka et al., 2020). Practicing cultural humility strengthens the therapeutic alliance and provides culturally responsive care for African American men in substance abuse and mental health treatment. Cultural humility, CRT, & counterstory-telling are concepts that are interconnected and encourages clinicians reflect on and understand the lived experiences of marginalized populations, examine how systems perpetuates disparities, and shed light on unheard voices.​
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Educate yourself about African American culture and norms
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Be self-aware of your own biases and privilege
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Prioritize the needs, beliefs, and values of the client
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Acknowledge power dynamics between client and clinician
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Participate in cultural humility and cultural competence trainings, continuing education, and workshops
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Tailor treatment interventions when working with African American men
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Work in collaboration with community resources
7 Tips on How Clinicians can Practice Cultural Humility
Emelyn Vargas, MA, LPC is a mental health clinician and school counselor. She discusses the importance of cultural humility and understanding challenges that marginalized populations face in treatment.
Cultural Assessment Questions
in Clinical Practice
Cultural competence allows clinicians to have a better understanding of a client's experiences and needs, and can strengthen the therapeutic alliance. The following are a few cultural assessment questions that clinicians can use in addition to other assessment questions:
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1. Have you ever experienced racism and/or discrimination? If yes, please describe.
2. How do you handle challenges?
3. What are your beliefs about substance abuse and mental health treatment?
4. What are some of your values and beliefs, and how have they shaped the decisions you've made in life?
5. Is there anything else about yourself that you would like to share?
6. Are there any differences between us that you may have concerns or questions about?