Ethnicity and Family Therapy

Until recently, the field of therapy has concentrated mostly on intrapsychic factors which influence the behavior of clients. Ethnic cultures have been studied in other countries most frequently from the point of view of sociology and anthropology, and mental health professionals in this country have finally realized that there is a wealth of diversity of cultures in the United States, each ethnic group having a profound influence on the values and beliefs of the individuals within the group. It is not possible to be an effective, ethical counselor to those of various ethnic groups without understanding the cultures. This paper summarizes the premise and contents of the book, Ethnicity and Family Therapy by McGoldrick, Pearce, and Giordano, and concludes with a personal response to the ideas presented by these authors.

The basic premise of the work is that therapy with an individual cannot take place within a vacuum, and it cannot always take place within the framework of white, middle class values, the values which have long dominated the mental health professions. Cultures found within the United States vary greatly on deeply-held beliefs concerning the nature and importance of time, human activity, human relationships, man's relationship with nature, and the basic nature of man (McGoldrick, Pearce, & Giordano, 1982). The authors of the work maintain that each ethnic group has its own ecology which becomes the human environment for the i

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time of the publication of the book. The specifics of beliefs and challenges inherent within each culture are described in these essays, and the variety among the nineteen cultures represented is considerable. The authors contend that it probably is not possible to become skilled at counseling persons from more than a few cultures different from one's own. There simply is too much to learn, and it takes a great deal of practice to learn techniques that are effective within each cultural orientation. In the way of concrete examples, Native Americans do not appreciate vague references to an appreciation of silver and turquoise art, especially if they are from a group that does not engage in that Southwestern type of activity. They also do not like references to a mysterious Indian princess in the therapist's own background with no concrete information about the name, tribe, and location of the ancestor. Most Native Americans view these ploys as transparent attempts to identify with some aspect of the Native American culture, which simply show the ignorance of the therapist using these tactics. Instead, a therapist intending to work with Native American families must learn such things as enduring long periods of silence, e

Category: Psychology - E