Priya Cima
Priya’s career started in Psychology, and her interest has consistently stayed in this area, expanding to include organizational and individual well-being, as she realized the importance of a holistic approach to community health. Her professional opportunities in the public and private sectors have led her to develop significant insight and skills within areas of sector/organization wide strategic wellbeing initiatives. Having grown up and worked for over 20 years in the United Arab Emirates, her priority remains to contribute her learning and skills in support of developing individual well-being through establishing safe environments where people can access the tools and resources, they need to build healthy lifestyles. Today she works with Chearful.com, an online mental well-being platform connecting those seeking support with qualified mental health practitioners anytime, anywhere, within accommodating resources.
Cultural neutrality in digital therapy: Therapists' perspectives through Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions.
This presentation investigates the relationship between digital therapy and cultural diversity, as well as their significant impact on the therapeutic process. We conducted a short survey with mental health practitioners to understand how cultural bias affects clinical outcomes while working with clients on an online platform. Drawing upon Dr Geert Hofstede's well-established framework of six cultural dimensions, we illustrate how digital therapy acts as a catalyst for
promoting cultural neutrality. This involves recognizing, empowering, and seamlessly integrating individual behaviours and cultural nuances within the psychological interventions and treatment. Through our study, we shed light on the transformative potential of digital therapy, highlighting its role in creating an inclusive and culturally sensitive therapeutic environment.
Keywords: Digital therapy, cultural neutrality, therapist’s perspectives