The Experience of Becoming a Therapist in a Foreign Culture

Abstract

This phenomenological study explores the experience of becoming a therapist in a foreign culture. The purpose is to better understand the issues adjusting to a new culture and give voice to the lived experience of immigrant therapists. Few studies explore the experience of foreign therapists. Most focus on the experience of mainstream mental health professionals dealing with populations from specific cultural backgrounds. A total of eight therapists, who emigrated from another country to the United States, were asked to describe situations when practicing was challenging because of cultural differences. The descriptive phenomenological psychological approach was used to analyze the collected protocol. The findings focused on four main themes: (a) facing cultural shock and threats on identity, (b) adjusting professionally to a different culture, (c) developing a new identity, and (d) counseling across cultures. These experiences both challenged their professional identity and also developed competencies. The experiences also turned out to be beneficial for the therapist–client relationship and for the client. Not sharing the same culture as clients was not always a limitation, and sometimes an advantage for their professional development and performance.