CIPSRT | Cultural competency / Cultural competence

Glossary of Terms

The term cultural competency, or cultural competence, is used to describe the need for mental health professionals to better understand the work experiences and workplace environment of the patients or clients (such as military members or public safety personnel [PSP]) who are at risk for exposure to psychologically traumatic events while doing their jobs.
Cultural competency is the ability of health care providers to work respectfully, and more effectively, with patients and clients through understanding and challenging their own biases, and actively educating themselves on the workplace environment and culture of those they work with.
PSP define cultural competency as a feeling of being understood, that “they get us.”
In the public safety and military environments, cultural competence often refers to sector-specific knowledge of the workplace, work-related terminology, and the types of potentially psychologically traumatic events to which these workers are exposed.

The term cultural competency, or cultural competence, is used to describe the need for mental health professionals to better understand the work experiences and workplace environment of their patients and clients (e.g. military members or public safety personnel [PSP]) who are at risk for psychologically traumatic exposures arising from experiences in their working environment while doing their jobs.
Cultural competency is the ability of health care providers (and, by extension, any professional) to work respectfully and more effectively with people from diverse cultures, including workplace cultures, while understanding and challenging their own biases and actively educating themselves on the workplace culture(s) of the people they work with.
PSP define cultural competency as a feeling of being understood, that “they get us.”
A culturally competent mental health provider conducts all interactions with patients and clients in a manner that recognizes, affirms, values, and preserves the dignity of the individual and their experiences.