Counseling Americans of Southeast Asian Descent: The Impact of the Refugee Experience
Author(s):
Chung, Rita Chi-ying; Bemak, Fred
Editor(s):
Lee, Courtland C.
Format:
Book section
Publisher:
American Counseling Association, Alexandria, VA, 2006.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Since 1975, more than 1.5 million Southeast Asians have fled from their homes and sought refuge in the United States. The mass exodus of Southeast Asian refugees was prompted by political turmoil and genocide, causing them to become one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. This population consists of five main Southeast Asian groups: Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Hmong, and Chinese-Vietnamese. This chapter first discusses the psychosocial adjustment and adaptation of Southeast Asian refugees, followed by a discussion on the types of distress predictors and the level of psychological distress encountered by this group. Cultural belief systems and their barriers to mental health services and use of traditional healing methods are also presented. Finally, the chapter discusses counseling issues and presents the Multilevel Model (MLM) approach to psychotherapy with refugees, using a case study to illustrate application of the model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)