Which statement best describes cross-cultural norms in seeking therapy?

Which statement best describes cross-cultural norms in seeking therapy?

• A. In the United States, it is common to see a perfect stranger for therapy
• B. In other cultures, it would not be the norm to see a stranger and receive pay for providing help
• C. Therapy is illegal in many cultures
• D. People in all cultures seek therapy only within family networks

Answer: (B)

Cross-cultural norms in seeking therapy vary in who provides help, where help comes from, and whether professional services are paid. In many Western contexts, seeing a trained therapist in a formal setting and paying a professional is common. But in other cultural settings, seeking help from strangers or paying for non-professional help may not be the norm; instead, support often comes from family, elders, or community healers, and such assistance may not involve payment. This makes the statement that in other cultures it would not be the norm to see a stranger and receive pay for providing help the best description of cross-cultural norms, because it highlights that who offers help and how it’s exchanged differ across cultures. The other choices are not fitting because therapy isn’t broadly illegal across cultures, not all cultures limit help to family networks, and the US pattern of seeing a stranger for therapy is not a universal cross-cultural standard.

Cross-cultural norms in seeking therapy vary in who provides help, where help comes from, and whether professional services are paid. In many Western contexts, seeing a trained therapist in a formal setting and paying a professional is common. But in other cultural settings, seeking help from strangers or paying for non-professional help may not be the norm; instead, support often comes from family, elders, or community healers, and such assistance may not involve payment. This makes the statement that in other cultures it would not be the norm to see a stranger and receive pay for providing help the best description of cross-cultural norms, because it highlights that who offers help and how it’s exchanged differ across cultures. The other choices are not fitting because therapy isn’t broadly illegal across cultures, not all cultures limit help to family networks, and the US pattern of seeing a stranger for therapy is not a universal cross-cultural standard.