Social Work Corner – Culture as Care – April 2026

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Culture as Care: Cultural Interventions for Stress Management

There is a heightened awareness of the need for ongoing stress management. As advocates, you are operating on the frontlines of human need, carrying the emotional weight of your clients’ experiences as well as the systemic challenges of the work. Chronic stress, secondary trauma, and burnout are common, but not impossible to overcome. While traditional stress management techniques such as stillness, exercise, and time management are valuable, they are not always universally welcomed or culturally responsive. Expanding one’s understanding of stress management to include culturally grounded practices can deepen resilience, strengthen connection, and foster sustainable care for you as an advocate and for the unaccompanied youth you serve.

Stress through a cultural lens

Stress is not expressed the same way across cultures and communities. Cultural beliefs shape how individuals react to and interpret stress. For some, it is a feeling they will identify, for others it may appear as a physical ailment. Similarly, the way that stress is managed changes for each community and individual; some internalize stress and manage it privately, while others address it collectively through family and community support. Recognizing these differences is essential for both personal well-being, and effective, culturally competent practice. If the “ Westernized” way of stress management is not working for you or for your client, it does not mean there is anything wrong. It may mean that a step back is needed to identify alternate interventions that are not always named as stress management strategies in Western society.

Identifying approaches to stress management

  • Movement and Dance. In many cultures, dance is not just an art form, but also a way to release emotion and promote healing. Whether it is traditional and cultural dancing, social dancing, or ceremonial dancing, the rhythmic expression allows individuals to process stress physically and communally. Encouraging or practicing movement-based coping can be a way to reconnect to culture, but also a way to process emotions, especially for those who may struggle with verbal expression.
  • Storytelling and Oral Traditions. Sharing stories, both current and personal as well as ancestral, can be a tool to process stress. Storytelling can foster meaning, helping individuals contextualize their experience within their cultural narrative and bridge that connection back to their roots and identity. Through sharing and listening to stories, individuals can feel seen and understood and draw on cultural knowledge to support their healing and well-being.
  • Spiritual and Ritual Practices. Whether it is prayer, devotionals, meditation, rituals, or ceremonies, these practices play a central role in stress management for many communities. Spiritual practices can provide comfort, inner strength, and a sense of control during uncertain times. Respecting and incorporating spiritual coping techniques is encouraged for those who practice and is key to culturally responsive care.
  • Connection to Nature. Spending time in nature and stewardship of the Earth is a deeply rooted practice for many cultures, including Indigenous communities. Activities such as walking in natural settings, gardening, or participating in land care practices can help regulate the nervous system and promote grounding. Nature-based healing emphasizes the interconnectedness of the earth and can be a powerful healing practice for those who are feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from their roots, identity, or purpose.
  • Collective Support Care. In the United States, the culture tends to lean towards individualism. For many advocates and many unaccompanied youth this culture is new as some unaccompanied youth come from collectivist cultures. For collectivist cultures, stress is often managed through shared experiences, family gatherings, community events, and mutual aid that provide emotional and practical support. This practice can include anything from “cafecito” with friends, prayer circles, or meal/care trains (providing care and meals to someone recovering postpartum, from illness, grieving, etc.). Encouraging and practicing connection rather than isolation can be a critical practice for those who are accustomed to collective support.

Community Healing for Sustainable Stress Management

For those who are accustomed to the practice of self-care, community healing may be a newer concept or practice. However, for advocates working within challenging systems, community healing is as vital as self-care. Community healing shifts the responsibility from just one person handling everything, to collective well-being. This can include:

  • Peer support groups among colleagues
  • Shared rituals or check-ins with teams
  • Building networks of mutual aid or support
  • Advocating for organizational practices that prioritize employee well-being

Community healing acknowledges that stress is not just personal; it is many times systemic. As advocates serving unaccompanied youth, you are working within a system that is fighting you and your clients day in and day out; your colleagues and professional community understand this. You are not alone in this work, and just like we collaborate to ensure client needs are met, we can rely on each other to collectively address the stress, reduce burnout, and foster a sense of solidarity.

Remember, stress management is not one size fits all. As advocates, embracing culturally grounded practices can enhance personal resilience and client centered practices. By honoring diverse ways of coping, we create space for healing that is inclusive, meaningful, and sustainable for ourselves and for the unaccompanied youth we serve.

When your work is rooted in empathy, compassion, and justice for every unaccompanied child, caring for yourselves is not optional; it is essential.

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By CILA Social Work Team