A Multicultural Psychotherapy Approach to Depression in East Asian Immigrants

Cheung (Stephen), Elmore, E. (Erin), Cheung, M.L. (Manching Lauren)

 

Submission type

Poster only

Scheduled

Poster, Beurs van Berlage , Grote Zaal

Kernwoorden

Depression, multicultural psychotherapy, East Asians.

Onderzoeksgebied

Anxiety and depression

Doelgroep

mensen met veel ervaring met het onderwerp

Workshop

Like many immigrants and refugees, East Asian immigrants/refugees experience much post-migration stress and adaptation to their host countries. Adjusting to their new environment, they are often confronted with multiple losses and various forms of acculturative stress and adaptations. As a result of the impact of their migration, some East Asian immigrants/refugees may suffer from depression without knowing it (Cheung, 2009, 2015; Falicov, 2016; Sluzki, 2008). From collectivist cultures, East Asian immigrants/refugees rarely seek treatment for their depression because mental illnesses are culturally stigmatizing and Western psychotherapy concepts can be ego-dystonic to a lot of them. Therefore, in order to engage them in treatment, the psychotherapist needs to understand their psychosocial and socio-emotional realities as well as their cultural worldviews on mental illnesses, their expectations of the therapist, of themselves in treatment and of the treatment process per se (Cheung, 2016). In the workshop, the presenter will discuss the common symptom manifestations of depression in East Asians and how to engage, assess, and treat an East Asian client in a culturally competent manner. Drawing from his years of experience with East Asians, the presenter will discuss such treatment options as family therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy for them with clinical examples.

Auteurs