The Asian American population is increasing rapidly and, not unpredictably, so are its mental health needs. A number of cultural factors and stressors common to Asian Americans pose obstacles to the successful employment of Western psychotherapy approaches and counseling---for example, the central role of the family in Asian life and the culturally based, traditional stigma associated with mental health problems. The authors, all practicing psychotherapists, focus on the critical aspects of transference and empathy in their consideration of the mental health approaches and therapies appropriate to ethnic minority population. The work has value as a resource for professionals and as a training guide for those intending to practice as psychotherapists and counselors in minority communities. It offers extraordinary insights and practical guidance through the use of case studies. Not only do these identify problems stemming from the racial differences between client and therapist, but they also provide rich clinical examples of case diagnosis, treatment plans, and client status statements. This is an important book that will further both the theory and practice of psychotherapy among minority populations.

This book is a practical and comprehensive guide for clinicians, trainees, and students interested in developing their skills in providing Psychotherapy and Counseling to Asian American Clients. The authors offer a cultural and social environmental framework, which helps mental health professionals conceptualize issues facing Asian American clients as well as strategies for addressing clinical concerns. This book discusses many frequently asked questions regarding clinical work with Asian Americans: Cultural similarities and differences among various Asian American groups; clinical implications of immigration and refugee experiences; strategies for diagnostic assessments; ways to engage Asian American clients in treatment; application of individual, family, and group psychotherapy and counseling; culturally syntonic service delivery models; and training and curriculum issues. Practical suggestions and case examples are offered throughout the book.

Therapist empathy is a vital component of positive psychotherapy process and outcome, yet the empirical data are lacking on the nature of this construct with Asian American therapy clients. The present study used a sample of 32 therapy sessions with Asian American college students to investigate the effects of participant cultural values and therapist verbal interventions on Asian American client ratings of therapist empathy. The researcher assisted in a tape review of the therapy session that provided participant empathy ratings and then session transcripts were coded using the Helping Skills System (Hill & O'Brien, 1999), a classification of therapist verbal interventions. It was found that giving advice led to the highest empathy ratings. Results also showed that, as hypothesized, adherence to traditional Asian values had a negative interaction effect with Reflections. However, results indicated that Asian values adherence had a negative interaction effect with Advisement, Interpretation, and Self-Disclosure, which was unexpected. Exploratory findings also revealed a negative relationship between Questions and empathy, which was further explained by participants' feedback on expectations and experiences of therapy. Finally, suggestions were made for further investigations of multicultural competence and therapy process with Asian Americans, approaches to enhancing clinical practice and training, and innovations to increase mental health service delivery to underserved populations.

In Defense of Asian American Studies offers fascinating tales from the trenches on the origins and evolution of the field of Asian American studies, as told by one of its founders and most highly regarded scholars. Wielding intellectual energy, critical acumen, and a sly sense of humor, Sucheng Chan discusses her experiences on three campuses within the University of California system as Asian American studies was first developed--in response to vehement student demand--under the rubric of ethnic studies. Chan speaks by turns as an advocate and an administrator striving to secure a place for Asian American studies; as a teacher working to give Asian American students a voice and white students a perspective on race and racism; and as a scholar and researcher still asking her own questions. The essays span three decades and close with a piece on the new challenges facing Asian American studies. Eloquently documenting a field of endeavor in which scholarship and identity define and strengthen each other, In Defense of Asian American Studies combines analysis, personal experience, and indispensable practical advice for those engaged in building and sustaining Asian American studies programs.

Inhaltsübersicht: Contributors, Preface, I. Overview Theory, Models, and Demographics, II. Methodology, III. Assessment and Treatment, IV. Training in Cultural Competence, Index.

The classic and critically acclaimed book Family Therapy with Ethnic Minorities, Second Edition has now been updated and revised to reflect the various demographic changes that have occurred in the lives of ethnic minority families and the implications of these changes for clinical practice. Family Therapy with Ethnic Minorities provides advanced students and practitioners with the most up-to-date examination yet of the theory, models, and techniques relevant to ethnic minority family functioning and therapy. After an introductory discussion of principles to be considered in practice with ethnic minorities, the authors apply these principles to working with specific ethnic minority groups, namely African Americans, Latinos, Asian/Pacific Americans, and First Nations People. Distinctive cultural values of each ethnic group are explored as well as specific guidelines and suggestions on culturally significant family therapy strategies and skills. Key Features: The revised text reflects advances in family therapy scholarship since the first edition thus ensuring for readers an up-to-date treatment of the topic Accents and extends current critical constructionist theories and techniques and applies them within a culturally specific perspective Pays special attention to the issues of 'historical trauma' (referred to as 'soul wound'), especially in work with First Nations Peoples and African American families /span

This two-volume handbook offers a thorough treatment of the concepts and theoretical developments concerning how to apply cultural knowledge in theory and practice to various racial and cultural groups. Volume Two focuses on practice and training, and addresses such topics as: assessment testing group therapy occupational therapy supervision ethics couples and family therapy continuing education