Cultural Humility: Engaging Diverse Identities in Therapy

by Joshua N. Hook PhD, Don Davis PhD, Jesse Owen PhD, Cirleen DeBlaere PhD

Overview

Cultural Humility offers a practical approach for meaningfully engaging cultural identities in therapy, to promote connection and growth in work with clients from a variety of backgrounds.

Aligns with APA Divisions 38 and 50.

The authors provide a therapeutic framework that integrates and contextualizes clinical training with the cultural issues and dynamics that arise in therapy. This fully updated second edition incorporates updated theory and research, and provides additional recommendations for how therapists from marginalized groups can navigate issues related to culture in the therapy room. The authors offer new resources to demonstrate how cultural humility and a multicultural orientation (MCO) can help therapists pinpoint and address the systemic and structural issues that can make therapy a difficult experience for many clients. Newly updated and enhanced case examples and activities are included throughout.

The MCO framework involves three components—cultural humility, cultural opportunities, and cultural comfort—which together enable mental health providers to integrate culture into the therapeutic process. The first part of the book introduces the MCO framework, and outlines strategies for working to improve one’s level of cultural humility and comfort in working with diverse clients, as well as the ability to recognize and engage cultural opportunities in therapy. The second part of the book illustrates the integration of the MCO model with key therapeutic processes, including developing a strong working alliance, navigating value differences, repairing the relationship after cultural ruptures, and working within one’s limitations. Supplemental content to support instructor teaching is also available on the book’s website, including companion exercises and resources, lecture slides, a sample syllabus, and glossary of key terms.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433842863
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	265
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Joshua N. Hook, PhD, received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a professor of psychology at the University of North Texas and is also a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Texas. His professional interests include humility, religion/spirituality, and multicultural counseling. He has published more than 300 journal articles and scholarly book chapters as well as several books. In his free time, he enjoys running, practicing karate, and cheering on the Chicago Bears. He lives in Dallas, TX, with his wife and two children.

Don (Donnie) Davis Jr., PhD, is a professor of psychology at Georgia State University. He received his doctorate at Virginia Commonwealth University and is licensed in the state of Georgia. Dr. Davis is a member of the Ken Matheny Center for the Study of Stress, Trauma, and Resilience and cofounded the Good Life Research Network. His work focuses on humility and virtues like forgiveness and gratitude, and the role of religion/spirituality in character development. He has published more than 300 articles or chapters in addition to books and is associate editor of the Journal of Positive Psychology. He is married to Cirleen DeBlaere and has three children.

Jesse Owen, PhD, is a professor and distinguished scholar in the counseling psychology department at the University of Došenver. He is a licensed psychologist and holds various positions including lead psychologist at Lifelong, Inc., research director for CelestHealth, senior research advisor for SonderMind, senior research advisor for OrgVitals, and editor for Psychotherapy. Dr. Owen has coauthored three books and has over 250 publications. His research focuses on process and outcomes of psychotherapy with a focus on therapist expertise, multicultural orientation, and couple interventions, and he is cofounder of the Multicultural Orientation (MCO) Framework. His research has been supported by foundations, federal agencies, and private companies.

Cirleen DeBlaere, PhD, is a professor in the counseling psychology doctoral program at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on impacts of marginalization stressors on the mental health of historically disenfranchised people and the promotion of health and wellness. Her research has resulted in over 90 peer-reviewed publications, two coauthored books, over 100 presentations, and multiple keynote addresses. Dr. DeBlaere has served on multiple journal editorial boards and is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Her work has been recognized with several national awards and she has consulted with colleges and universities across the United States, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations.

Table of Contents

Preface  
Introduction: Beginning the Journey of Cultural Humility
I. Theoretical Foundation and Self-Awareness  
1.  Developing a Multicultural Orientation 
2.  Exploring Your Cultural Identity 
3.  Reducing Cultural Biases and Working Toward Social Justice 
II. Cultural Humility in the Therapy Context  
4.  Cultural Humility and the Process of Psychotherapy 
5.  Strengthening the Working Alliance 
6.  Navigating Value Differences  
7.   Repairing the Relationship After Identifying Cultural Ruptures  
8.  Working Within Your Limits 
9.  Continuing the Journey of Cultural Humility 
References  
Index  
About the Authors
 

 

What People are Saying About This

William E. Cross

This work on cultural humility critiques and extends the concept of multicultural competence, and offers theoreticians and practitioners a different and perhaps more effective framework for carrying out meaningful therapy with a broad range of multicultural clients.

Rodney K. Goodyear

Presenting a compelling case for cultural humility, the authors bring the concept to life through writing that is personally engaging and through many examples, tools, and exercises. They provide readers with numerous opportunities to learn a culturally humble stance in treatment contexts. This is important reading for any counselor or psychotherapist and a great resource for faculty in graduate training programs.

Y. Barry Chung

As we move from cultural competence to cultural humility, this book provides useful frameworks for therapist self-reflection and for addressing clients' cultural identities in therapeutic work. Case examples, which include the authors' personal experiences, make the information practical and relevant. An excellent resource for multicultural training and practicum courses.

Editorial Reviews

At a time when diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice are increasingly under assault, mental health professionals must redouble their efforts to cultivate critical self-awareness, honor their clients’ cultural identities, and create more power-balanced therapeutic relationships. This book will help readers to embrace this imperative. Engaging, grounded in relevant research, and full of practical examples and exercises, this book offers a vital resource for advancing culturally responsive psychotherapy theory, research, and practice.

Andrés Eduardo Pérez-Rojas

Cultural humility and the multicultural orientation framework are crucial foundations to the difficult conversations around racism and oppression that characterize our current times. This important update to the first edition provides excellent case examples, accessible language, and concrete steps to help readers learn to approach their clients, and the world, from a more culturally humble and aware perspective.

Melanie M. Wilcox

This is an essential resource for therapists and supervisors committed to meaningful and culturally attuned practice. The authors, who have been so instrumental in introducing the multicultural orientation (MCO) to the field, model in their writing the humility that is at the core of the MCO. In so doing, they guide readers to recognize and capitalize on cultural opportunities, cultivate cultural comfort, and embrace cultural humility—the pillars on which the multicultural orientation rests.

Rodney Goodyear

If you are looking for an in-depth exploration of cultural humility, this book is for you. Written by renowned experts in clinical research and practice, the book offers clear and comprehensive insights into cultural humility and its clinical implications.

Bryan S. K. Kim

This book offers accessible and concrete insights about how to enact cultural humility in therapy, a key ingredient for effective therapy with all clients. It is an excellent resource for therapists, trainees, and educators.

Bonnie Moradi

As a whole, this is a well—organized and timely text. It includes the authors’ stories, current research, practical exercises, and case studies. The work is strongly recommended for collections in counseling and other helping professions that engage with diverse cultures.

Choice

The greatest strength of Cultural Humility is the inclusion of case studies in the concluding chapters and the case vignettes that are shared throughout the text. I found the case vignettes to be realistic and reflective of the complexity and challenge that often characterizes many of the exchanges between a client and clinician.” —PsycCRITIQUES

“As a whole, this is a well—organized and timely text. It includes the authors’ stories, current research, practical exercises, and case studies. The work is strongly recommended for collections in counseling and other helping professions that engage with diverse cultures.” —Choice

From the Publisher

The greatest strength of Cultural Humility is the inclusion of case studies in the concluding chapters and the case vignettes that are shared throughout the text. I found the case vignettes to be realistic and reflective of the complexity and challenge that often characterizes many of the exchanges between a client and clinician.

PsycCRITIQUES

As we move from cultural competence to cultural humility, this book provides useful frameworks for therapist self—reflection and for addressing clients' cultural identities in therapeutic work. Case examples, which include the authors' personal experiences, make the information practical and relevant. An excellent resource for multicultural training and practicum courses.

Y. Barry Chung

Presenting a compelling case for cultural humility, the authors bring the concept to life through writing that is personally engaging and through many examples, tools, and exercises. They provide readers with numerous opportunities to learn a culturally humble stance in treatment contexts. This is important reading for any counselor or psychotherapist and a great resource for faculty in graduate training programs.

Rodney K. Goodyear

This work on cultural humility critiques and extends the concept of multicultural competence, and offers theoreticians and practitioners a different and perhaps more effective framework for carrying out meaningful therapy with a broad range of multicultural clients.

William E. Cross