DOI: 10.52982/lkj257
Abstract: Western multiculturalism has emphasized reason, categorization, and a methodical analysis of race, identity, culture, and belonging. This academic emphasis has strengthened our understanding of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), resulting in significant policies and programs. These efforts promote diverse appreciation and common humanity. However, this approach has unintentionally imbalanced our understanding of multiculturalism. This has resulted in the intellectualization of multiculturalism. By focusing on the cognitive features that concern multiculturalism, we risk forgetting its rich emotional depth that shapes our interactions with other identities and cultures. Positive psychotherapy encourages practitioners to analyze multiculturalism intellectually and emotionally to build meaningful connections. By focusing on capacities like trust, love, contact, and time, we can shift how mental health and DEIA professionals view multiculturalism into a more holistic one. This emotionally attuned perspective provides a deeper, more real understanding of diversity that speaks to the heart and mind, enhancing human interconnectedness.
Keywords: Positive Psychotherapy, multiculturalism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), capacity to love and know, cross-cultural counseling