Abstract
The interplay between cultural factors and psychotherapeutic interventions has remained multifaceted and dynamic, requiring detailed consideration. Clients from diverse cultural backgrounds might interpret the concepts, such as commitment, acceptance, and mindfulness, by considering their cultural norms. This influences their willingness to get engrossed within these therapeutic modalities. Accordingly, therapists should demonstrate cultural capability to understand these nuances. Considering this, the research intends to investigate the impact of cultural factors on the implementation of mindfulness and third-wave approaches within psychotherapy in the UK. The study will adopt a secondary qualitative method to analyse the extent of cultural factors’ impact on these therapeutic processes.
Introduction
Background
Distinct cultures pose different values and beliefs that impact an individual’s receptivity to mindfulness and third-wave approaches. This includes a few cultures focusing on individualism and others emphasising collectivism and interdependence (Kitayama and Salvador, 2023). Therapists must consider cultural differences while implementing such approaches since they might influence the willingness of the client to get engrossed in change and self-reflection. Specifically, third-wave strategies encompass Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MBCBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Behavioural Activation (Peteet, 2018). It is observed that mindfulness and ‘third wave’ therapies illustrate a novel creation of psychological therapies, which are progressively being employed in treating several psychological problems (Pisetsky et al., 2019). Nonetheless, the impact of cultural factors on the application of mindfulness and ‘third-wave’ therapies in psychotherapy remains unclear.
Contemporarily, variations in third-wave approaches are made to ensure accessibility and relevancy of implemented systems, including developed comprehension of psychopathology while considering cultural factors, usage of suitable language terms, and introducing family involvement (Rathod et al., 2019; Phiri et al., 2023). Research studies have demonstrated that the cultural competence of therapists has been an imperative factor for the third-wave therapies’ success (Masuda and Rizvi, 2019; Hashempour and Anand, 2022). The analysis of how cultural factors tend to impact the application of mindfulness and third-wave approaches within psychotherapy highlights the significance of adapting interventions, cultural competence, and the necessity of considering the experiences and cultural backgrounds of clients by the therapists. Accordingly, the study advances culturally sensitive and highly effective therapeutic interventions and practices.
Research Aim and Objectives
This research study aims to investigate the impact of cultural factors on implementing mindfulness and third-wave approaches within psychotherapy in the UK.
The following are presented specific research objectives.
- To assess the extent of cultural competence between therapists using mindfulness-based interventions and third-wave approaches within their practice.
- To analyse alterations made in mindfulness interventions to make them highly culturally sensitive and their influence on therapy outcomes.
- To recognise practices for mental health professionals and therapists to deliver effective and culturally sensitive mindfulness-based and third-wave psychotherapy.
- To offer suggestions for curriculum design, therapist training, and policy development within mental health education programs focusing on endorsing inclusive therapy practices and cultural competence.
Literature Review
Mindfulness in Psychotherapy
Mindfulness therapy has been referred to as talk therapy, stressing learning to be highly cognisant of situations, surroundings, emotions, feelings, and thoughts to minimise automatic responses (Afshari, 2022). Mindfulness originates in Buddhism, entailing the exercise of being completely non-judgmental and present in the moment (Sekhon, 2023). Lin et al. (2019) found that Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are likely to be structured therapeutic programs that include mindfulness techniques. This encompasses Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MBCBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). MBIs intend to improve emotional regulation, minimise stress, and enhance self-awareness. Distinct cultures have different beliefs and value systems that could influence acceptance of mindfulness practices. Several research studies have analysed mindfulness in Eastern cultures. It might be readily acceptable by their conventional beliefs and practices; however, in Western cultures, it might be observed as a novelty or with scepticism (Elf et al., 2023; Stankov and Filimonau, 2023). In psychotherapy, mindfulness must be culturally adapted and sensitive to meet clients’ exclusive beliefs and requirements from diversified cultural settings.
Third-wave Approaches in Psychotherapy
Third-wave therapies, including Mindfulness-Based Behavioural Cognitive Therapy (MBCBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), emphasise mindfulness, emotional regulation, and psychological flexibility (Zarotti et al., 2023). Emmelkamp (2021) found that “third‐wave” therapies tend to be highly experiential and might generate positive outcomes for practitioners and trainees. Several research studies have analysed cultural beliefs and values that will likely impact the effectiveness and acceptance of third-wave therapies (Phiri et al., 2023; Alrashdi et al., 2024). Distinct cultures might post varying approaches to views, coping strategies, and emotional expression on mindfulness. Thus, psychotherapy therapists must consider how these cultural values align or conflict with the Third-wave therapies’ principles.
Variations in Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Third-Wave Approaches
Many research studies have examined the efficiency of culturally customised approaches and interventions, which amalgamate elements of third-wave therapies and mindfulness within the cultural adaptations (Dela Cruz et al., 2023; Haidar et al., 2023). These interventions or approaches intend to cope with the cultural-specific mental health requirements and have observed a promising improvement in the outcomes amongst diversified populations. Musanje et al. (2023) analysed that mindfulness interventions can be made culturally sensitive by adapting the metaphors and language employed within the practices. The adaption or tailoring certifies that clients can comprehend and establish linkage with the introduced concepts, resulting in improved engagement and outcomes. Musanje et al. (2023) found that therapists could integrate the values and beliefs of clients within the mindfulness interventions. This will assist in aligning their practices with the client’s cultural perspectives and make them highly acceptable and pertinent. Thus, mindfulness intervention changes that improve cultural sensitivity could result in highly efficient and positive therapy outcomes.
Theory of Cultural Relativists
The theory of cultural relativism posits that, fundamentally, all cultures vary from each other and follow the moral frameworks structuring associations in distinct societies (Ekefre and Etuk, 2023). Thus, the model identifies that no single psychotherapeutic approach is relevant or suitable in all cultural contexts. The theory asserts that distinct cultures possess exclusive values, worldviews, and methods to address psychological distress (Day‐Vines et al., 2020). Accordingly, the theory focuses on the requirement to adapt and tailor mindfulness-based and third-wave approaches to remain in accordance with the client’s cultural context.
Intersectionality
The framework of intersectionality conceptualises a social problem, an individual, or a group of individuals likely to be impacted by several distinct disadvantages and discriminations (Jackson and Jabbie, 2020). Thus, this analytical framework identifies that individuals belong to several cultural groups, including sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, etc. The interconnecting individualities could impact clients’ experience and response to mindfulness-based and third-wave approaches. Accordingly, therapists must focus on being sensitive to these interconnecting cultural factors.
Research Methodology
Research Philosophy
This research will use interpretivism philosophy to emphasise the meanings individuals attribute to their world. Third-wave Approaches that fundamentally entail acceptance of emotions and thoughts and mindfulness considerably rely on how people make inferences about their experiences (Shah, 2021). This philosophy enables the analysis of how cultural factors impact how clients interpret their personal growth, suffering, and emotions in the therapies.
Research Approach
This research will use an inductive approach as it is well-suited to analyse multifaceted and complex phenomena, including the impact of cultural factors on the implementation of mindfulness-based and third-wave psychotherapy. This approach enables research studies to examine and explore this impact’s generally overlooked, unanticipated, and nuanced aspects. Considering the diversity of cultural settings, this approach allows research studies to evade excessively comprehensive assumptions and boost them to analyse exclusive elements of distinct cultural backgrounds (Janiszewski and van Osselaer, 2022).
Research Design
This research will use a qualitative design as it enables a research study to expand and construct the insights secured from past research studies. It is advantageous because there is an extensive body of prevailing research on mindfulness-based and third-wave psychotherapy. Thus, this design will offer a solid foundation to conduct a profound and highly nuanced analysis of cultural influences.
Data collection method
The data will be gathered from secondary sources such as past research studies in the past five years (i.e., 2019 to 2023). The rationale for using this method is that gathering data through primary data could be resource-intensive and time-consuming. Accordingly, using prevailing research studies to gather insights can be a highly effective method to analyse research questions, specifically while accessing several distinct cultural contexts.
Time Frame
The table provides the time frame for the research by highlighting the activities and their duration that will be carried out to complete the study.
Table 1: Gantt chart
References
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