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February 29, 2008

Cultural Competence

I've had some interesting discussions this week concerning cultural competence. The definition of culture is "the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought." Most folks think of cultures in terms of people from "other" countries.

Considering culture on a personal basis, it becomes clear that women have a culture that is different from men. Cultures also exist within any group that is like-minded or shares a common experience, such as a religious group or a profession. People with strong allegiances to sports teams create a unique culture with a set of acceptable actions and expected reactions to events occurring within the context of that group. Even bird watchers exhibit a code of conduct while on the hunt for their next bird. Respecting the environment and fellow bird watchers out in the field, they even have a set of rules for charting and reporting rare bird sightings to the birding community at large.

So, what does this have to do with massage? As therapists, we see people from all walks of life with all sorts of physical complaints and expectations. It is important for us as therapists to be aware of our own cultures because these influence and shape our values. At the same time, we cannot exist in a vacuum. By exploring cultures outside our own, we have an opportunity to open windows of insight into our biases. The therapy room is no place for bias when we are charged with the care of people. So, how do we challenge ourselves to explore these differences without accidentally injuring our clients?

One tool we can use is the "fish out of water" scenarios depicted in 30 Days, a show by the creator of Super Size Me, that teaches lessons in tolerance and cultural understanding in surprising and unpredictable ways. Covered in reality-TV style are some of America's most pressing social issues from religion to sexual orientation to poverty. Another video, When Billy Broke His Head...and Other Tales of Wonder, explores what it's really like to live with a disability in America.

Successful therapists tend to have a innate ability to put people at ease so their clients can relax on the table and trust the process of letting go. By exploring our clients' unique cultural influences, we have the opportunity to make connections to that which is familiar, or to open a window of insight into our clients' opinions and beliefs. Armed with cultural competence, we can acknowledge our differences with respect and compassion for the human condition without sacrificing our own values.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at February 29, 2008 1:26 PM