523 | Understanding Universal Human Needs in Therapy: Building Confidence in Multi-cultural and Cross-cultural Contexts

A therapist can confidently practice effective counseling and other therapies in multicultural and cross-cultural contexts. A solid understanding of universal human needs and how they are expressed in various cultures allows the psychologist, licensed mental health professional, medical professional, and ministry leader to impart hope to any client. Even when the client is from a very different culture, in which human needs are understood and described differently, addressing these universal human needs is the key to imparting hope and helping the client to resolve issues and solve problems. The client can coach the therapist about their own culturally appropriate ways of meeting needs. Identifying with the client and building rapport is based on connection with their universal, shared human needs. Finding interventions appropriate in the client’s context becomes a partnership between therapist and client. The client experiences hope through shared understanding, rapport, and being able to apply interventions in their own culturally relevant ways.