We live in an increasingly multicultural society where patients and physicians are bound to encounter individuals that come from different religious, racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. While this provides an opportunity to accept and learn about other cultures, it also serves as a barrier that can compromise the quality of care. There are several concerns that one should consider such as making sure that one conducts their practice by following ethical practices and procedures. This paper considers ethical practice in a multicultural society by considering research articles focusing on the Latino culture and how religion and ethnicity affect the practice of psychology.
There are current guidelines which exist that detail how physicians should treat patients. The American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics notes that physicians may not refuse to care for patients based on sexual orientation, gender, race, or any other criteria. Doing this would constitute discrimination. Additionally, physicians should support the goals of improved patient care by putting consideration of the minority’s patient’s requests. This will be associated with better health outcomes for the minorities. Physicians have to learn about treating different patients in different ways so as to overcome any form of prejudice.
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Latino Culture and Psychotherapy
One of the minority communities that can face an increasing amount of difficulties when trying to access therapy services is the Latino group. Mufson et al., (2014) investigated how the Latino group can experience several advantages of treatment outcomes for Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A) after integrating cultural competency. The study investigated how acculturation and ethnic matching of therapist and patient can act as predictors of the success of treatment. The treatment was delivered through a school-based health clinic where care was provided for the Latino patient population. The patients were matched based on the patient- Latino ethnic matching, birthplace and, length of the stay in the United States.
The conclusion of the study by Mufson et al., (2014) noted that a culturally responsive treatment for Latino youth could affect the outcome of the treatment. Most of the Latino youth that was identified for treatment were suffering from issues of depression such as acculturation issues which affect their relationships. The study found that the best way to treat individuals was through ethnic matching. A larger amount of the population that were ethnically matched showed that they experienced an improvement in their social functioning and a reduction in depression.
The future implication of the study is whether the ethnical matching would involve ethnic or racial profiling. This raises a question of ethics where a psychiatrist can refuse to provide help for a patient of another ethnic group. However, the study notes that one of the best ways to help individuals that face an increasing amount of acculturation depression. Ethnic matching should thus be applied in the future only to Latino youth facing acculturation depression. Individuals that increasing face cultural issues and problems should be ethnically matched with a psychiatrist to help them.
Religion Barriers to Psychotherapy and Patient Relationship
One of the increasing challenges that face psychotherapists is the impact of religion on the study. Apart from the influence of religion on psychotherapy, psychotherapy has to deal with individuals that come from different religious and ethnic groups. This has resulted in several challenges such as difficulties in maintaining a positive relationship between the patient and the psychotherapy. In order for psychotherapists to build a good relationship with the patient, they have to be aware of the religious and ethnic background of the patient. Psychotherapists today deal with an increasingly diverse client and it is important to identify some of the barriers and enablers that can hinder and foster a good relationship.
Brown, Elkonin, and Naicker (2013) investigated the use of religion and spirituality in psychotherapy and identified some of its enablers and barriers. The paper explored whether psychologists may use to use religion and psychotherapy and identify some of the enablers and barriers with its use. It focused on the qualitative exploratory descriptive method that was used to analyze the willingness to discuss religion and spirituality with clients. The participants were also requested to enablers and barriers when incorporating religion and spirituality in psychotherapy.
The study identified some of the barriers such as ethics, clashing beliefs, and dependence on religion on decision making. Ethics was a significant barrier in fostering a good relationship between patients and psychotherapists. There are certain ethical boundaries that can prevent one from moving forward with religion. The incorporation of religion can also have clashing beliefs with that of the client. Different individuals can clash based on the morals and values with the client. The application of religion for decision making can also create several challenges with regards to a good patient outcome. Religious beliefs and traditions can also make one uncomfortable when discussing religious issues with the client. Different religious beliefs and practices can thus hinder a good relationship between the psychotherapist and the client.
The study by Brown et al. (2013) also noted that the incorporation of religion in psychotherapy can have a few advantages for the relationship between the patient and the psychotherapist. Individuals that have similar religious beliefs and practices that were similar to that of the client made it easy to engage with the clients on another level. When fostering the growth of the client and the client’s journey, it may be important to discuss religion. Participants of the study also noted that it is important for psychotherapists to have basic therapeutic skills such as non-judgmental attitude, acceptance, and empathy. This enhanced the ability to discussion difficult religious issues with clients and focused on a good relationship with the patient.
Future research on the topic should focus on other aspects that can foster or hinder the relationship with the patient. Some of the factors that were not considered in the study include the impact of ethnicity and culture. These factors were not included in the study and should be addressed when considering some of the barriers and enablers that can affect patient and psychotherapist relationship. While there was some section of the study that was not explored, the study provided valuable insights regarding the incorporation of religion into psychology.
In conclusion, the world today has become has increasingly diverse and there is a need to address some of the issues that could arise when psychotherapists deal with multiculturalism. The two studies highlight some of the issues of multiculturalism. The first study notes that Latino individuals facing acculturation depression can best be assisted by being ethnically matched with a psychotherapist. This can be used to help them realize better outcomes with their well-being. The second study identifies some of the barriers and enablers of religion and psychotherapy. Religion could have potential barriers when applied to psychotherapy because of ethical issues, clashing religious differences, and its application in decision-making. However, religion can also foster a good relationship only mostly when the client and the patient come from the same religious background.
References
Brown, O., Elkonin, D., & Naicker, S. (2013). The use of religion and spirituality in psychotherapy: Enablers and barriers. Journal of Religion and Health , 52 (4), 1131-1146.
Mufson, L., Yanes-Lukin, P., Gunlicks-Stoessel, M., & Wickramaratne, P. (2014). Cultural competency and its effect on treatment outcome of IPT-A in school-based health clinics. American journal of psychotherapy , 68 (4), 417-442.
