I wish I could claim that 'Let Culture Collide with Culture' was my own assertion but I have to credit it to Trevor Phillips (Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality) in his powerful article in 'The Guardian'i back in 1997, in which he expressed a vision for a British Society where all cultures are allowed to co-exist and enrich each other together. This picture of embracing other cultures reflects for us quite accurately God's promise that his church will be a 'house of prayer for all nations' (Isaiah 56 v 7).

Of course to some extent we all come from different cultures because our family of origin has a unique culture peculiar to itself. As a facilitator of a multi cultural group for women who have experienced child sexual abuse, I realise very much that I am on a journey, where I am exploring new challenges, and experiencing the excitement of crossing international cultural barriers.

I set the group up ten years ago under the umbrella of a large multi-cultural church which has 120 nations all co-existing together, the predominant culture being Afro-centric. This leaves me in an interesting position, I am a white person who has lived in London her whole life and rarely travelled out of it, yet through the experience of working within this multi-cultural community, I have learnt so much about other cultures and appreciate my own more clearly.

Crossing cultures

The most significant issue for any person crossing cultures is, of course, assumption. We assume that because it feels like this in our own culture, it feels like it in every other. For example, adoption often conjures up images of rejection or shame in western society, and yet in African culture it may not mean someone did not want you - but that someone did!

One striking example of a real cultural crossing for me was during one of the group meetings when a Kenyan woman was processing some anger and talked about what she would like to happen for her to feel that there was some justice in her situation. She said the only thing that would help her was if her village took a cow, and sacrificed it. I asked her what this would mean and she said that it was traditional in her village to burn an animal as a symbol of retribution. In that particular group she was, unusually, the only African woman, the rest being of West Indian or European origin. Although there appeared to be a puzzled silence when she finished speaking, soon after the group began asking her about her anger and the cow, and she went onto share in a deep and more personal way. She was able to express herself freely and receive support and acceptance from the rest of the group even though from a cultural perspective they may not have completely understood where she was coming from.

Mind your language

One of the most challenging aspects of running a group where English is not the first language for some members, is being able to make it inclusive for those members who do not speak English very well. When someone is struggling with the language and we're struggling to understand, it can make the person feel an 'outsider'. I have found it very difficult myself to know how to facilitate those members who are learning the language. Sometimes, on the surface anyway, it seems to halt the flow of conversation as a member is trying to find the right words. And yet, even if this generates a welcome space or alternatively feelings of anxiety, it can be very useful for recognising and unpacking other emotions within the group. I have witnessed a group responding with concern, but also with impatience. The response often indicates where the group is at that particular time perhaps by being caring and supportive. However, the reaction might be frustration because group members are processing some of their own anger and this is how they respond to the person struggling with the language.

Confusion or opportunity

Another side to this, as the person tries to express themselves, is that they may share something that seems to cut across what the rest of the group are talking about. In my experience this can, at times, throw the group into confusion, but it can also enable the group to look at something from a different perspective or bring an issue to the fore that has not yet been voiced.
Counselling language is often a waste of time and even confusing and unhelpful for those who are struggling with English. 'As if... or 'It's almost as though...' or 'I was wondering if..' just add to the problems of understanding, so it is a challenge as a facilitator to use language and expressions that are easy to understand yet not too direct to sound harsh and judgmental.

Time travel

At the start of facilitating a group where you have people from different cultures, one issue you are immediately faced with is exactly that What time do you start? The time that is specified or the time the group fully assembles? Straight away you cross cultures where time boundaries are very different. I have become used to 'African Time' where the appointment is not as important as what happens along the way, and it is inconceivable that arriving one or two hours late for a meeting should present any problems! African culture, however, is not alone in its expandable time barriers. A Brazilian once told me - 'What does it mean when an African looks at his watch?… Nothing! Well, the Brazilian does not even wear a watch!'. Perhaps because of this communal acceptance of lateness, it is rarely challenged by group members. I personally find it very frustrating. It breaks continuity and flow when you are trying to facilitate a meeting that is continually being interrupted and re-starting. I also find it hard to discern whether the member may be signalling an emotional resistance to the group by arriving late or whether it is purely a cultural issue.

Black Client - White Counsellor. Can it really work?

Over the ten-year period of running the group, women from other nationalities have told me that I could not give them the support they were looking for as a white person from such a different cultural background. So at initial interviews for the group I ask black women who are considering joining how they feel about a white facilitator. I accept that they may not want to attend a group run by a white person. However, I have found that the most common response is that they feel able to trust me because I am a Christian, and as a Christian share the same spiritual beliefs, and that is the priority. One black woman responded that she considers herself a British Londoner and therefore from the same culture as me. For her there was no problem, but another black British woman said she felt 'black would be much better'. It was interesting that I was unable to locate a black facilitator for her at that time and she decided to attend the group anyway. We used her feelings towards me during the group meeting to explore her 'bigger' feelings towards white people, which I hope was a positive experience for her.

Conclusion

'The idea of intercultural therapy is making the psychotherapy healing process available to black and other ethnic minorities... its essence is in its humanity, the respect of each other in our difference, our language, history and traditions and this approach enlarges our concept of human experience and is mutually enriching'.

This quotation by Aisha Dupont-Joshuaii sums up my ideal of running any group with members from many different nations and backgrounds. It has always been my vision to work with women from different nationalities who have experienced child sexual abuse, within a framework, as Aisha Dupont-Joshua says, 'that aims to take into the account the whole being… their inner life and their communal experience.' I am consistently challenged by my own inadequacies in this area and am thankful for a very wise supervisor Janet McNish, a black British woman, who gives me the support and guidance that I need.

Isaiah 66 v18 talks about the body of Christ being a gathering of 'all nations and tongues'. My aim therefore is for these groups to be part of the effort already being made towards multi-cultural Christian therapy, where difference is not suppressed or endured but rather celebrated and enjoyed.

i 'The Guardian' 13th October 1997

ii Intercultural Therapy' Aishya Dupont-Joshua Counselling Magazine August 1994

A version of this article was first published in Association of Christian Counsellors magazine. Rebecca Mitchell is a previous contributor to Caring magazine and co-founded 'Into The Light' that offers support, information, training and resources around issues of sexual abuse. A victim of abuse herself and having received help and experienced personal growth in this area, she wanted to provide a safe place within a Christian community for healing to begin in others.

For more information contact: intothelight.org.uk, or for the web look at: www.intothelight.org.uk. Janet McNish can be contacted at JLMcnish@aol.com

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