CTC Cultural Sensitivity in Trauma Work 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A refugee child from Somalia refuses to make eye contact with her female therapist. The most culturally informed interpretation is:
- The child is displaying signs of avoidant attachment
- Avoiding direct eye contact may be a culturally respectful behavior rather than a symptom (Correct answer)
- The child likely has unresolved shame about her trauma
- Eye contact avoidance is a universal indicator of dissociation
Correct answer: Avoiding direct eye contact may be a culturally respectful behavior rather than a symptom
In many cultures, avoiding eye contact with authority figures or adults is a sign of respect, not pathology or avoidance.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'historical trauma' as it applies to Indigenous communities?
- Trauma experienced personally by the client in their lifetime
- Cumulative emotional harm across generations resulting from colonization, forced removal, and cultural genocide (Correct answer)
- Trauma caused by witnessing historical events on television or media
- A DSM-5 diagnosis specific to Native American populations
Correct answer: Cumulative emotional harm across generations resulting from colonization, forced removal, and cultural genocide
Historical trauma refers to the compounding multigenerational wounds inflicted through systemic oppression such as colonization and forced assimilation.
Question 3: A trauma consultant working with a Latino family notices the family frequently speaks about their child's distress as 'susto.' The most appropriate response is to:
- Educate the family that susto is not a clinically recognized diagnosis
- Explore the cultural meaning of susto and incorporate it into the treatment framework (Correct answer)
- Redirect conversation to standardized DSM criteria only
- Refer the family to a psychiatrist immediately for medication evaluation
Correct answer: Explore the cultural meaning of susto and incorporate it into the treatment framework
Susto is a cultural idiom of distress in Latino cultures; culturally competent practice means exploring and integrating indigenous explanatory models.
Question 4: In collectivist cultures, trauma healing is most likely to emphasize:
- Individual autonomy and personal narrative reconstruction
- Community and family involvement in the healing process (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality above all family involvement
- Strict cognitive-behavioral protocols without cultural adaptation
Correct answer: Community and family involvement in the healing process
Collectivist cultures prioritize communal identity, so trauma treatment should involve family and community systems rather than focusing solely on the individual.
Question 5: When a Black child presents with hypervigilance in a predominantly White school, a culturally attuned consultant should first consider:
- A diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder
- Whether the hypervigilance may be an adaptive response to experiences of racial discrimination (Correct answer)
- Parental attachment disruption as the primary cause
- Conduct disorder as a possible explanation
Correct answer: Whether the hypervigilance may be an adaptive response to experiences of racial discrimination
Hypervigilance in racially marginalized youth may reflect an adaptive survival response to systemic racism rather than a trauma symptom in isolation.
Question 6: A trauma consultant is asked to work with a child whose family practices traditional healing rituals alongside seeking professional help. The best approach is:
- Discourage traditional rituals as they may undermine evidence-based treatment
- Collaborate with the family to integrate traditional healing practices where safe and appropriate (Correct answer)
- Ignore the rituals and proceed with the standard treatment protocol
- Consult only with the school, not the family, to avoid cultural bias
Correct answer: Collaborate with the family to integrate traditional healing practices where safe and appropriate
Culturally competent practice involves honoring and, when appropriate, integrating traditional healing practices within the professional treatment framework.
Question 7: Which term describes the process by which immigrants and minorities adopt elements of the dominant culture while potentially losing aspects of their culture of origin?
- Enculturation
- Acculturation (Correct answer)
- Assimilation stress
- Cultural dissociation
Correct answer: Acculturation
Acculturation is the process of cultural change that occurs when individuals from one culture interact with another, often creating stress that can compound trauma responses.
CTC Cultural Sensitivity in Trauma Work 2
A refugee child from Somalia refuses to make eye contact with her female therapist.
The most culturally informed interpretation is: