Dismantling inequalities: Developing cultural confidence in working with ethnic minority communities in clinical practice

Research by the NHS Race and Health Observatory shows that ethnic minority communities are less likely to access NHS Talking Therapy services and are more likely to have poorer therapy outcomes. The workshop will explore ways of engaging and working with ethnic minority communities to improve their mental health outcomes. This will be an interactive workshop where practitioners will learn how to adapt psychological therapy, building cultural competence and cultural humility.

The speaker, Saiqa Naz, hopes to create a safe space for practitioners. She will draw upon her latest research on minority stress hypothesis and ethnic density effect to explore factors that may contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological distress and the clinical implications.

The workshop will look at the components of CBT i.e. the belief systems, and how to adapt the model culturally to facilitate improved care. It aims to help participants develop their confidence in delivering culturally sensitive care for ethnic minority populations, which in turn serves to improve access, engagement and recovery. The session will give attendees practical experience and knowledge of how to culturally adapt CBT, it will look at ‘helpful and unhelpful’ things to do in therapy and how we can work with and engage ethnic minorities in line with BABCP’s EDI statement.

This workshop is appropriate for all CBT practitioners, including Wellbeing Practitioners and CBT trainees.

Learning outcomes
1. To learn how to culturally adapt CBT
2. To increase engagement of ethic minorities in psychological therapy
3. To provide safe and effective care for clients