Cultural adaptation in psychotherapy and counseling: A review of models and methods

Background: Therapists have recognized that treatment must be tailored to the patient's unique personality and background. Psychotherapeutic and counseling approaches that do not consider cultural backgrounds may even put clients at risk. Therefore, cultural adaptation, a systematic process, is essential to tailor treatment to the cultural context of clients and should be implemented according to scientific models. Aims: The present study aimed to conduct a narrative review of models and patterns of cultural adaptation in psychotherapy and counseling methods. Methods: This research was conducted using a narrative review method. The research population included English books and articles published in databases including APAPsycNet, Google Scholar, PubMed with the keywords cultural adaptation, psychotherapeutic interventions, models, and methods in the time range (1990-2023) which were used based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: This paper reviews the literature on cultural issues in psychotherapeutic interventions as well as the definition and types of cultural adaptation, its essential components, and finally 8 cultural adaptation models including: 1. Ecological Validity Framework, 2. The Multidimensional Model for Understanding Culturally Responsive Psychotherapies, 3. Influence of Culture on Therapies, 4. Cultural Adaptation Process Model (CAPM), 5. Hybrid Prevention Program Model (HPPM), 6. Leong's Cultural Accommodation Model (CAM), 7. Selective and Directed Treatment Adaptation Framework, 8. Heuristic Framework (HF). Conclusion: Cultural adaptation is a systematic process that should be carried out according to the principles and protocols established in scientific texts, and most experts call for a systematic and rigorous process. Cultural adaptation models address the modification of the process and content of treatments to increase engagement, acceptability, and congruence of treatment with the client's culture. This narrative review emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptation in psychotherapy and counseling. It explores existing models and frameworks to raise awareness in this field, particularly among Iranian professionals and researchers. By utilizing these models, practitioners can tailor interventions to better suit the cultural context of their clients, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of their services.