Study Study: Cultural Humility And Trauma Treatment

[allpow15]

Hello everyone,

My name is Allison Pow and, I must state right off the bat, that my role here is primarily as a trauma researcher and clinician. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and an assistant professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio. I’m reaching out to this group because I am working on a research study right now that I believe may be of interest to many of you and the results of which I hope will benefit you as trauma survivors.

In this study, my co-investigator and I are looking at the construct of cultural humility and how it may impact the effectiveness of trauma treatment. Specifically, we want to know if mental health professionals whose clients rate them as more culturally humble actually see greater success in reducing traumatic symptoms and greater client satisfaction with treatment. We believe that culture plays a central role in how we make meaning of significant events in our lives and is therefore central to good trauma treatment. We would like to learn more about how these relationships work. We think this is a very important and timely study, especially in light of recent racial and religious tensions within the U.S., but we still need assistance finding participants.

We have about 1/3 of the response that we need right now and I am hoping that some of you may be able to help spread word about the study and perhaps connect those who may be interested/eligible with us so that we an tell them more about it.

The study involves an online anonymous survey that takes about 30 mins to complete. Anyone who is at least 18 years old and currently in mental health treatment for issues related to trauma is eligible to participate. Trauma does not have to be the focus of treatment and may be something that is addressed from time to time or in some way related to the current focus of treatment (e.g., relationship issues that were influenced by past trauma).

If you or someone you know may be eligible for the study, please follow the link below or PM me for more details!

Study link: https://utsacoehd.az1.qualtric...D=SV_07oN7MxyN22aPYN

Thank you for any and all assistance!

Allison

 

[shimmerz]

And is this study for US citizens only?

 

[The Albatross]

Sounds rather nuanced to me, eh no thanks. "Specifically, we want to know if mental health professionals whose clients rate them as more culturally humble actually see greater success in reducing traumatic symptoms and greater client satisfaction with treatment. We believe that culture plays a central role in how we make meaning of significant events in our lives and is therefore central to good trauma treatment."

Sheesh. Care to explain more about this "culturally humble" thing?

My therapist stopped me from basically killing myself. Culturally humble didn't even enter into the equation. He could have been from any planet in the universe and as long as he kept me breathing from week to week when I was high risk I could have cared less. I though am in a rural area and there were very limited resources available.

It will be really interesting to follow how many people may have been/are mental emotionally "available" enough to even think about this.

 

[scout86]

I was wondering about the definition of "culturally humble" myself.

 

[The Albatross]

P.S. How much grant money are you folks spending for this?

 

[allpow15]

And is this study for US citizens only?

Anyone who is receiving mental health services in the U.S. in eligible. You do not, however, have to be a U.S. citizen.

 

[allpow15]

Sounds rather nuanced to me, eh no thanks. "Specifically, we want to know if mental health profes...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Admittedly, this is a bit of a nuanced study. As you all are well aware, trauma has been well researched for decades and there is quite a lot we already know, including some of the more prominent aspects of trauma treatment that seem effective. The study's aim is, indeed, to start examining aspects of treatment that have not been the focus of previous research. I do believe strongly (and the evidence bears this out) that culture plays an important role in how trauma is understood and experienced by the individual. For example, in some cultures having dreams about the trauma is interpreted positively rather than as a negative symptom of disturbance. Yet, in the U.S. (and many parts of the developed world), we focus more on the medical model's definition of trauma as a set of behavioral symptoms, which largely overlooks the way individuals may interpret and understand their own experiences. That is the spirit of this study - to take one step forward in looking at how the way a treatment provider uses and incorporates culture into trauma treatment and how that incorporation may actually help people to heal.

 

[allpow15]

P.S. How much grant money are you folks spending for this?

This is not a grant funded study. It came about through discussion between myself and one of my students at UTSA about how culture may factor into trauma treatment and, as we began to read more about this, the study took shape. We have used our own time and resources and are not receiving any additional compensation for the study, which is precisely why all of your help is so appreciated!

 

[The Albatross]

Define cultural humility please?

 

[allpow15]

Define cultural humility please?

Sure! Cultural humility is a client or patient's perception of their treatment provider as inclusive, understanding, and welcoming toward their cultural background and beliefs, especially as those beliefs relate to treatment. According to Hook et al. (2013), who introduced the construct of cultural humility, culturally humble clinicians are a) aware of their own limitations in regards to culture and genuinely seek to understand clients’ worldviews and b) accepting of cultural differences and conduct counseling in which clients’ goals and worldviews take precedence.

 

[The Albatross]

Not a factor in my own therapeutic experience in any way shape or form.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Not interested because I am racially colorblind. when I first started therapy I was desperate for a therapist to help me and it has never, ever occured to me about cultural differences.

I have had both good and bad therapists, nine years total in therapy.

My husband and I needed a good marriage counselor and we went to a white marriage counselor who was very bad so we quit him and found a Nigerian marriage counselor who was the best in his field and helped us so very much to be able to communicate better with each other and have a fresher perspective on resolving conflicts.

I have had a chinese psychiatrist, a bad one, a Indian one from India who I loved until he died, my current therapist is hispanic and and my currant psychiatrist is also hispanic.

Race never ever occured to me. I was more interested in whethor or not they could help me.

This seems like an injection of political correctness which has no place, in my opinion dealing with trauma.