Cultural Humility: Curiosity Failure Critique Respect Growth

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Something is missing. I’m not yet ready to conclude this series on emerging adults with mental illness. In the next and last episode, I’ll dive for pearls in the fifteen episodes published over the past ten months. What’s nagging at me? Each guest spoke from the culture they knew and the cultures in which they received or offered treatment and service. I need an episode about how people can approach, be curious about, and be open to the cultures they experience. Is this cultural competence or sensitivity or what?

I sought experts working with a kaleidoscope of cultures — first, Jamila Xible, a previous guest and community health worker with Cambridge Health Alliance. Jamila blows my socks off whenever I speak with her.

Photo taken by Thyla Jane PhD on UnSplash

Next, my friend and previous guest, Kiame Mahaniah, referred me to Catherine Smail, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Lynn Community Health Center. Cat is a clinician therapist and the Associate Director of Training for Behavioral Health…