Cultural considerations in the treatment of children and adolescents. Operationalizing the importance of culture in treatment.

Culture is complex and fluid, constantly changing with the tides of internal and external influence. It is vital for the transcultural therapist to understand the roles, context, and therapeutic consequences that follow from culture. The constructs mentioned previously are interdependent and often inseparable from one another. The interwoven web of political, social, and cultural constructs must be considered to understand the context of mental illness. This being said, therapists should not be content with the broad brush of cultural definition. Subcultural and intracultural dynamics also may play a role in a patient's world view, and the therapist must remain open to these variations. Likewise, one should be careful of stereotype. Culture plays a vital role in shaping physical and psychological conceptions but in and of itself cannot define an individual.