From Cultural Competence to Cultural Competemility: An Integrative Review of Multicultural Practice in Systemic Family Therapy

Abstract

As global migration and cultural diversity reshape the landscape of mental health practice, systemic family therapists face increasing demands to deliver culturally responsive care. This integrative literature review examines the evolution of multicultural practice in systemic family therapy, tracing the theoretical and practical shift from cultural competence to cultural humility and, ultimately, to the emerging paradigm of cultural competemility. Drawing upon contemporary scholarship, this review synthesises three interconnected domains: the foundational components of multicultural competence (cultural self-awareness, cultural knowledge, and cultural skills); the application of culturally enriched assessment and intervention strategies within systemic practice; and the integration of cultural humility as a relational stance that addresses power imbalances and institutional accountability. Through examination of a hypothetical case illustration involving an intergenerational conflict within a Kenyan family navigating ethnic, generational, and acculturative tensions, the review demonstrates how modern and postmodern therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, and Narrative Therapy, can be adapted through a multicultural lens. Findings suggest that cultural competemility, which synthesises the skill-based dimensions of competence with the reflexive posture of humility, offers a robust framework for ethical and effective systemic practice. Implications for clinical training, supervision, and the continued development of culturally responsive therapeutic models are discussed. This review contributes to the growing body of literature advocating for the integration of social justice perspectives within family therapy practice.