Continuing Education Course: The Ethics of Cultural Awareness and Therapist Bias in Counseling
CE Credit: 3 Hours
Format: Self-Study Article + Reflection Activities + Video Resources
Target Audience: LPCs, LMFTs
Course Description
In a rapidly changing world, ethical counseling must be grounded in more than good intentions. Cultural awareness and humility are not extras—they are ethical imperatives. This 3-hour CEU self-study explores how personal bias, cultural blind spots, and systemic inequities influence clinical work. Through real-world vignettes, self-assessments, and ethical frameworks, participants will reflect on their own cultural identities, challenge hidden assumptions, and craft a sustainable plan for lifelong cultural responsiveness in practice.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Define and distinguish cultural competence, cultural awareness, and cultural humility.
- Describe how therapist bias may impact clinical judgment and the therapeutic alliance.
- Identify relevant ethical codes related to cultural responsiveness.
- Develop strategies to recognize and respond to implicit bias in practice.
- Create a personalized cultural humility action plan using real-world tools and goals.
Section I: Cultural Competence vs. Cultural Humility
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Defining the Terrain
| Term | What It Means | Common Pitfalls |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Competence | Ability to work with diverse populations based on knowledge and skills | May become checklist-based or stagnant |
| Cultural Awareness | Conscious understanding of one’s own and others’ cultural identities | May stop short of accountability |
| Cultural Humility | Lifelong process of self-critique, learning, and relational openness | Requires discomfort and vulnerability |
Key Insight
The term “cultural humility” was coined by Tervalon & Murray-García (1998) as a response to the limitations of “competence” as a concept.
“We don’t become culturally competent. We become better at noticing when we’re not.” — Anonymous
Required Video
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg
Duration: ~19 minutes
Adichie explores how single narratives create stereotypes and how expanding our view promotes empathy and ethical engagement.
Reflection Exercise
- What is one “single story” you have held (or still hold) about a client population?
- How might this narrative influence your tone, questions, or treatment goals?
- How did Adichie’s talk shift your awareness?
- What are you doing—or could do—to invite more than one story from your clients?
Section II: The Slippery Slope of Bias in Clinical Work
Estimated Time: 1 hour
What is Therapist Bias?
Therapist bias refers to unconscious values, beliefs, and assumptions that shape the therapeutic process. Bias can manifest in:
- Diagnosis decisions
- Cultural misattunement
- Disregard for spiritual or communal values
Common Examples
| Scenario | Bias Impact |
|---|---|
| Assuming silence = resistance | Misreads cultural norms of deference |
| Emphasizing independence | Ignores collectivist family dynamics |
| Dismissing non-Western spirituality | Invalidates client worldviews |
Case Vignette
Client: Marisol, second-gen Mexican-American woman with anxiety
Therapist: White, CBT-trained, values “evidence-based” interventions
Conflict: Therapist redirects spiritual content in favor of measurable outcomes
Discussion: What bias is operating? What ethical principles apply?
Activity
Take Harvard’s Project Implicit Test
List 5 “shoulds” you hold about therapy or clients. Reflect:
- Where did these come from?
- Who might they exclude?
Supplemental Video
Ethical Cultural Competency in Therapy
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1qgX3fZT0U
Duration: ~6 minutes
Section III: Digital Culture & Ethical Awareness
Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Digital culture shapes identity. Therapists who disregard this context risk missing key elements of their clients’ lives.
Examples
- Dismissing TikTok mental health content
- Criticizing meme or fandom-based community building
- Misunderstanding online spiritual subcultures
Reflective Questions
- Have you dismissed something online that’s meaningful to a client?
- What digital communities do your clients belong to?
- What do you need to learn more about to serve them ethically?
Section IV: Cultural Humility Action Planning
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Sample Action Plan
| Area | Action Step | Frequency | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continued Learning | Read one memoir or text per quarter by a marginalized author | Quarterly | Goodreads, Bookshop.org |
| Reflection | Journal after charged sessions regarding bias or identity | Weekly | Private notes or supervision |
| Supervision | Join a multicultural or DEI-focused consultation group | Monthly | TherapyDen, local collectives |
| Client Feedback | Implement anonymous feedback about cultural safety | Bi-annually | Google Forms or paper survey |
| Language Learning | Learn 5 therapy-relevant phrases in a client’s language | As needed | Duolingo, native speakers |
| Podcasts | Listen to diversity-focused mental health content | Weekly | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
| Visual Audit | Evaluate inclusivity in office decor & materials | Yearly | DEI checklist |
Final Reflection Prompts
- What’s one blind spot you hadn’t realized?
- How has your identity shaped your counseling presence?
- What will change tomorrow in your sessions?
Resource List
- Tervalon & Murray-García (1998) – Cultural Humility
- Mulyana et al. (2024) – Cultural Value Bias in Counseling
- Sue, D. W. & Sue, D. (2019) – Counseling the Culturally Diverse
- ACA Code of Ethics (2014)
- Project Implicit Bias Tests
- Therapy for Black Girls (Podcast)
Completion Instructions
To receive CEU credit:
- Read all content
- Watch required videos
- Complete reflection activities
- Submit post-test and evaluation form