Toolbox

Toolbox for interventions with Asian clients in mental healthPrint version

• Therapy is a Western concept and will be unfamiliar to many Asian clients. Approaches and modalities will need to be carefully matched and explained.
• It may take up to two sessions to find an appropriate modality to match cognitive and cultural needs. Explore your client's unique cultural values and perspectives for this purpose.
• Many Asian clients will want to use traditional approaches instead of, or in conjunction with therapeutic interventions. Assess which are being used and accommodate these in treatment plans where appropriate.
• Many Asians may prefer a structured, short-term and goal-directed approach. Be aware that the clinician will be regarded as the expert and will be expected to direct the process. Collaborative approaches will need to be established after rapport and authority issues have been met.
• In New Zealand CBT has been found to be successful for working with Chinese and some other Asian groups. Refer to the mind map on page 4 (section III) for detailed guidelines. Prescribing clinicians need to provide psycho-education about medication.
• Most Asians are family-centred. It will be critical to involve family in the process. Be aware that family are often not seen as a system and so will not necessarily understand that they are part of the problem. Involving family in interventions will need careful introduction and management. Cultural values and meeting obligations can be good motivators for change.
• Women are often blamed for disharmony in the family, so when working with marital issues it may be necessary to work with the wife alone, or at least initially. If working with husband and wife, focus on social issues that are part of the problem, like changes in domestic responsibilities as a result of migration.
• There will be shame for families who receive mental health services. Acknowledge this shame and find ways to re-frame problems using culturally congruent terminology and stories and metaphors.