Honoring Cultural Diversity

Posted on Friday, December the 28th at 7:27pm

By: Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, LMFT, ACRPS, CADC-II

Sometimes there is a mistaken belief about recovery that “one size fits all.”  In other words, what worked for me will work for you and if it doesn’t there must be something wrong with you.  When I first started working in the treatment field this seemed to be the rule.  Everyone had the same standard treatment plan, although there were some differences because of the presenting problems.  Fortunately, as treatment professionals became more educated and research evolved, this practice started to change.  Now most programs customize treatment to the individual.  In fact, two of the major certification providers—The Joint Commission on Accreditation (JCOA) or The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)—both required individualized and collaborative treatment plans for each client/patient.

Unfortunately, the issue of differences, particularly when they veer from the “norm” is still not being adequately addressed.  Differences can be gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or cultural.  In order to achieve quality long-term recovery this diversity must be taken into account.

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to present a two-day training for the Lakota Sioux Native American conference in Sioux Falls South Dakota.  I learned very quickly that what I was presenting would need to be significantly modified in order to work with the Native American population.  I had to face the fact that I did not really understand the Native culture and apologized to those attending the conference.  I promised them that I would educate myself and asked for suggestions on the best way to do that.  The training went well, but throughout the two days I could see that a greater understanding of the culture would have significantly increased its effectiveness.

I learned that for too many years Native Americans were being forced into a recovery model that was based on a white male middle/upper class value system.  The fact that they are an oppressed culture is not usually addressed. 

My experiences in South Dakota emphasized the importance of identifying diversity issues that can enhance or sabotage the recovery process.  It also re-validated my long held belief that we are all different and those differences need to be understood and respected. Now several years after this training a new Native American “Big Book” is available: “The Red Road to Wellbriety” by White Bison, Inc. that speaks to cultural specific interventions.

When working with people from diverse backgrounds it is important use the concept that what is being offered is a road map; not a straightjacket.  Educate yourself on how to best utilize the principals of 12-Step recovery, even if you are resistant to joining a 12-Step program.  There is more than one path to recovery.

You need to honor your background and find your strengths, which you can incorporate into your recovery.  It is crucial to understand the diversity issues that need to be addressed so they don’t sabotage your healing process. 

For Native American’s anger, rage, and trauma from centuries of oppression by the European-American culture can sabotage the recovery process and is often overlooked.  I also learned an historical fact that is often not mentioned; many more Native Americans were killed by the United States Government during the frontier expansion, than the number of Jewish people killed by Nazi Germany during World War II.  How can we expect Native Americans to trust until that and other oppressive issues are dealt with and a healing process begun?

We need to join together and learn from each other.  We need to stop the fighting, anger, and fear.  We need to honor the diversity that makes up our greater society.  This must start with each of us.  We can no longer afford intolerance.  Let the healing begin.