ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the frameworks of cultural humility and structural competency to work with patients who are medically ill to address structural racism in medical settings. It highlights the relevance of multicultural considerations in medical settings and the lack of formalized training for medical art therapists. Improvements made in medicine when treating patients cross-culturally promote an emphasis to address patient’s language, spiritual and religious beliefs, dietary, ethnic, and psychosocial needs in treatment Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Medical professionals who practice cultural humility allowed for better relationships with patients and resulted in better health prognosis for those patients. Issues of diversity and cultural humility have increasingly been raised in medicine. Art therapists working with diverse populations require research on culturally appropriate art therapy interventions, particularly in medical art therapy. The multicultural considerations, coupled with culturally responsive care, provide therapists with a heightened awareness on how to better treat culturally diverse patients within medical settings.
