Why Does Culturally Competent Care Matter? The Power of Practitioners Who Understand Your Experience

“I don’t think you understand how nice it was to be seen for the first time in a class.” This was the feedback that Pilates instructor and wellness advocate, Rayanna Raye, says she received from a couple of attendees at one of her recent events. In a video that has now amassed more than 350K views across Instagram and TikTok, she explains how she frequently observes that Black, female clients have spine curvature, resulting in discomfort when they try to achieve certain flat back positions that are commonly incorporated into Pilates exercises. By taking the time to adjust the movements for those attendees who may need accommodation, she employed cultural competency to create a positive experience for all. Raye finished the video by adding this is how she knows she’s in her purpose and that “everyone should have access to wellness.”

Cultural sensitivity can be demonstrated through seemingly small actions that make a world of a difference for Black and Brown communities. This is especially important, considering what research tells us about the health disparities that these communities face in the United States.

Health & Wellness Disparities

According to the American Psychological Association, worse health outcomes observed in racial minorities can stem from a multitude of factors, including economic determinants, education, environment, lower-quality care, inadequate access to care, inability to navigate the system, and provider ignorance/bias and/or stress. According to one study published in 2012, patients who have experienced racial discrimination when seeking medical care may be more likely to seek complementary and alternative medicine. This highlights an important gap that qualified wellness practitioners can fill.

The Impact of Cultural Understanding in Healthcare

When it comes to wellness products and services, the best way to receive care is not one size fits all. Each unique individual comes to the table with a history of beliefs and experiences that can influence their needs. A few examples include:

• Family dynamics and community influence: In many cultures, health decisions are made collectively rather than individually, with family members playing significant roles in care decisions and recovery support.
• Communication styles and preferences: Different cultures have distinct communication norms around directness, eye contact, physical space, and expressing pain or symptoms. For example, studies have found some medical professionals allow racial bias to impact pain management and treatment, a dangerous byproduct of incompetent cultural training.
• Medical trauma: Communities that have experienced historical exploitation, experimentation, or neglect within healthcare systems can carry collective memories that influence trust and engagement with providers today. As previously mentioned, certain individuals may seek alternative care due to skepticism or reluctance.

The Benefits of Culturally Sensitive Care

So how can receiving care from a culturally informed wellness practitioner benefit you? There’s a host of benefits, including:

• Better health outcomes through improved understanding
• Increased trust and openness in practitioner relationships
• More accurate diagnoses due to cultural context
• Higher likelihood of following through with treatment plans
• Feeling seen, heard, and validated in wellness and healthcare settings

How to Select a Culturally Competent Practitioner

When you work with wellness practitioners, it’s important to pay attention to how your mind and body feel. Additionally, take notice of if a business has experience working with customers or clients that share your cultural background and may have similar needs. Ask yourself these questions when considering whether to incorporate a practitioner into your care team:

• Do they demonstrate an understanding of your specific cultural background?
• Do they have awareness of health disparities affecting your community?
• Do they have a respectful curiosity about your personal beliefs and practices?
• Do they actively listen and adapt when you communicate your needs?

This final question is critical, but remember that cultural competence is also an ongoing journey for practitioners. What’s most important is to consider how someone responds when you speak up about needing more tailored care – do they shy away from these conversations or do they rise to the occasion to listen and learn from your experience?

On your wellness journey, you are deserving of practitioners, products and tools that meet your specific needs. But we also believe that you are your own best advocate. Take the first step by exploring our directory (when it is published later in 2025) of vetted wellness practitioners and businesses that share in our mission of uplifting Black and Brown communities.