Introduction to Psychotherapy and Culturally Competent Care
Event Information
About this event
Around 5.3 million people said they needed help for their mental health in 2018. However, over 50% of these Canadians did not have their needs met due to being too busy, not knowing where to go for help, or could not afford to pay for mental health care services (Statistics Canada, 2019). Of greater concern is that Black Canadians and other racialized communities were less likely to seek mental health services compared to white Canadians (Chiu et al., 2018).
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a versatile service intended to help people improve and maintain their well-being and mental health. It has become popular for its effective therapeutic outcomes related to a wide array of issues.
Despite its popularity, seeking psychotherapy for the first time can be confusing or uncomfortable for individuals who are faced with unfamiliarity and stigma around mental health. This problem may be further complicated for those facing cultural barriers, such as under-representation of racialized practitioners and language barriers in accessing psychotherapy.
We will cover:
- What is “psychotherapy”? Why do people seek therapy?
- Who are “psychotherapists” and how do they differ from other health care practitioners?
- Foundation of psychotherapy
- Western dominance of counselling and its (problematic) origins
- Barriers to seeking psychotherapy for Black Canadians
- The implications of culturally competent care in psychotherapy for Black patients/clients
The goal of the workshop is to improve participants’ mental health literacy on psychotherapy. This workshop is open to anyone who is interested in educating themselves on psychotherapy from a cross-cultural lens. Learning new knowledge will empower participants with greater agency and courage in their journey to mental wellness.
Who We Are
AGATA Resource Centre Inc. is a Black-led mental health organization created to improve the mental well-being of Black and other racialized communities in the Scarborough and Don Valley North regions of Toronto. In awareness of the health disparities, marginalization, and stigma that affect Black Canadians, we address these challenges by providing psychoeducation and mental health supports through knowledge dissemination, dialogue, advocacy, partnerships, referrals, and culturally relevant and individually tailored approaches to mental health.
