Diversity
Explore the importance of diversity in psychotherapy practice and research. This section covers topics related to cultural competence, inclusivity, and the ways in which diverse perspectives enhance the therapeutic process.
143 articles found
How weight stigma shows up in therapy and what to do about it
We live in a society where body size is not a neutral feature, but one imbued with assumptions and meanings. Thinness is seen as a symbol of virtue, restraint, and health, whereas fatness is believed to represent gluttony, laziness, and illness. These pervasive societal assumptions lay the groundwork for weight stigma, which is defined as […]
Samantha Philip, M.S. + 4 more
March 24, 2025
First-Generation Students in Higher Education: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Navigating higher education presents challenges for most students. However, first-generation college students often face unique barriers that can make the path to higher education more difficult. As individuals who are a first-generation college student (Kaitlynn-Elizabeth H. Brooks; KHB) and a first-generation college graduate (Nicholas R. Morrison; NRM) invested in careers involving psychotherapy, we recognize the […]
Kaitlynn-Elizabeth H. Brooks + 1 more
December 3, 2024
Disordered Eating in Asian Americans: Background and Clinical Implications
Eating disorders are diagnosable mental illnesses as outlined by the American Psychiatric Association’s (2022) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5 TR), which can originate from disordered eating (DE) behaviors (Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006). In contrast to a diagnosable eating disorder, DE refers to problematic eating behaviors and attitudes that an individual may experience, […]
Yashvi Aware, MS, MPH
November 17, 2024
What to Expect When Therapying – Understanding Change Process Expectations
When patients walk into the first therapeutic session, meet their therapist for the first time, and sit (perhaps comfortably, perhaps uncomfortably) on the sofa, we would say therapy has begun. But did the therapy actually begin even before this moment? With their thoughts about their therapy, their fears about how it will be, their expectations […]
Dana Elberg, MA + 3 more
September 25, 2024
A Most Queer Language: The Case Against an All-Inclusive Buffet in Therapy
The vantage point of a queer-identifying therapist is uniquely translucent; I see some things in sharp resolution, while there are other things that remain opaque. How does a queer therapist affirm a queerness that endangers them as well? How does a queer therapist affirm a queerness that bemuses them? Sitting across from a patient tussling […]
Damini Yadav, MS
September 22, 2024
Measurement-Based Care and Cultural Responsiveness
While the case has been made that measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidenced-based intervention that improves outcomes and reduces dropouts (de Jong et al., 2021), and recently, that it provides a transparent collaborative process to engage clients in treatment (Boswell et al., 2023), it has not been widely considered as a methodology for cultural responsiveness. This […]
Robert J. Reese, Ph.D. + 1 more
September 21, 2024
Dealing with Bias in Artificial Intelligence Driven Psychotherapy Tools Among Cultural and Racial Populations
Psychotherapy as a tool for treating various mental and physical health disorders has long been established as an effective treatment modality for mental disorders in Western populations, demonstrating efficacy and long-term efficiency (Kim et al., 2019). However, some authors argue that Western approaches and models in psychotherapy may not be suitable for Black Africans (Shatte […]
Caleb Onah, MS
September 13, 2024
Addressing Religion and Spirituality in Psychotherapy: Why it Should be in Graduate Training Programs
There has been a recent question in American Psychological Association’s (APA) Monitor on Psychology asking, “Can religion and spirituality have a place in therapy?” (Abrams, 2023). APA’s 2023 President Thema Bryant, PhD, and other mental health professionals believe religion and spirituality have a place in psychotherapy and also agree that clinicians should receive training in […]
Juliane Nguyen, M.Psy.
June 25, 2024
Treatment Procedures for Behavioural Risks Associated with GPT-4 Artificial Intelligence Model
The increasing influence and widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) have prompted extensive discussions on its transformative potential and have raised numerous questions about its economic, political, social, and ethical implications. Academic institutions, regulatory bodies, the media, and the public are actively engaging in debates regarding AI’s impact on various aspects of society. Topics under […]
Caleb Onah, MS + 2 more
May 27, 2024
Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Building a Relationship of Trust and Stability
It was in 2017 when I started to teach English to a group of refugees in the UK and became aware of the immense difficulties they faced in their lives. Many of them openly discussed the dangerous journeys they undertook to arrive in the UK. Several of these individuals had experienced or witnessed their boats […]
Eva Gharibi, MSc
May 19, 2024
Harmony of Psyche: Tracing the Nexus of Ancient Indian Psychology, Colonial Legacies, and Contemporary Cultural Synthesis
Ancient Indian Psychology India, a land steeped in diversity, has a rich heritage encompassing various cultures, religions, beliefs, and traditions. From science, metaphysics, and astronomy to literature, art, and politics, this country has made substantial contributions to human knowledge. Beyond the more well-known domains, ancient Indian psychology stands out. Intricately woven with spirituality and devotion […]
Khushi Mehrotra, MA
May 19, 2024
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (Division 29) Diversity Research Grant for Early Career Psychologists
The Diversity Research Grant for early career psychologists was established to foster the promotion of diversity within the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (APA Division 29) and within the profession of psychotherapy. The Society may award annually one $1,000 Diversity Research Grant to an early career psychologist (within 10 years of graduation) who is […]
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy
May 1, 2024