You asked, Dr. Foster Answers

What are the risks if a psychologist fails to pay appropriate attention to both therapy methods and cultural traditions?

DR. FOSTER: The risk is that, particularly during times of stress and duress, people will tend to gravitate to their culture of origin. And so-- say an American person, Indian person, who is being treated by an outside person-- unnecessary obstacles can be conduct-- can be placed there simply by the cultural ignorance.

So I think it's important that the provider reduce any barriers to care through cultural knowledge.