It's true that there's some ambiguity to these questions. I would say answer in the way that feels most appropriate/true to you. So yes, these could be things that came about through your overall processing of the trauma and your work with treatment providers, but still would be connected to the trauma in some way because that is, at least in part, why you were seeking treatment. Make sense?
Thank you, Lola!
You raise a good point. And I do think it depends on the therapist and the therapeutic relationship (others may have had various experiences and want to chime in). I do believe, though, that for some knowing that their therapist shares key parts of their identity can be very important. I've known people who specifically sought out a therapist who aligned with their religious or spiritual beliefs, for example, because that helped them to feel comfortable and understood. Of course, this doesn't hold the same weight for everyone. In the context of the study, we're asking about this because, if a client is aware of fundamental similarities or differences in aspects of cultural identity between themselves and their therapist, that may impact the degree of cultural humility they perceive from that person (that is, if I know my therapist is very similar to me culturally, I may be more likely to perceive them as culturally humble toward me than if they were very different).
Much depends on how much of themselves the therapist brings into the room. Differing theories on that, and I ultimately think it's one of those factors that will help the client decide whether or not they are comfortable with their therapist. I'm one of those who likes knowing their background, but I don't want their POV to overtake/influence the therapy. So it's a bit of a balancing act. My therapist is generally decent at it. We don't waste time on it, per se - it occasionally factors into discussions related to the work we are doing.
