Culturally Sensitive Therapists in 53527
Lisa Gutzke
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC, SAC-IT
Verified Verified
Cottage Grove, WI 53527
I have 20+ years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults and families. I utilize a variety of insight and compassion focused, strength-based counseling techniques depending on client goals for therapy. One of my skills is helping clients make connections between their past experiences and current thoughts, feelings and behaviors, which promotes healing from trauma and grief. I believe therapy is a collaborative experience and want clients to feel comfortable, hopeful, and truly understood. I personalize my approach to counseling depending on a client’s age, reason for counseling, and desired outcomes.
I have 20+ years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults and families. I utilize a variety of insight and compassion focused, strength-based counseling techniques depending on client goals for therapy. One of my skills is helping clients make connections between their past experiences and current thoughts, feelings and behaviors, which promotes healing from trauma and grief. I believe therapy is a collaborative experience and want clients to feel comfortable, hopeful, and truly understood. I personalize my approach to counseling depending on a client’s age, reason for counseling, and desired outcomes.
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Culturally Sensitive Therapists
How does culturally sensitive therapy work?
A culturally sensitive therapist will tailor their approach to therapy based on the individual client’s background. This may include changing their style of interaction (asking open-ended questions vs. being the “expert” voice), their affect (seeming warm or “neutral”), how much personal information they disclose about themselves, and more. It’s also important for a culturally sensitive therapist to acknowledge larger societal forces that may impact their client due to the client’s background.
How effective is culturally sensitive therapy?
Some professionals have expressed concern about highlighting cultural differences in therapy, suggesting that it might promote stereotypes and harm the therapeutic bond; however, many experts agree that cultural sensitivity tends to strengthen the connection between therapist and client and help clients feel heard and understood. A culturally sensitive approach to therapy can be especially helpful for those not in the cultural majority, especially when combined with proven therapies like Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
What are the limitations of a culturally sensitive approach to therapy?
While being culturally sensitive is generally a valuable skill to have, a therapist cannot treat every client from a similar background the same way. Each client is an individual with their own values, personal preferences, and life experiences that will need to be explored during therapy. In addition, it’s rare for a therapist and client to have identical backgrounds, so there may be some cross-cultural differences to navigate during therapy, but a culturally sensitive therapist can do so with empathy and respect.
Can culturally sensitive therapy be done online?
Yes, online therapy using a culturally sensitive approach can be beneficial. Therapy can sometimes be difficult to access for clients from diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic standing. The array of mental health support available through the internet makes it possible for clients to find a good therapist match regardless of where they live.