Southeast Asian mental health from the perspective of the bicultural provider
Author(s):
Vang, Pa Der
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : University of Minnesota, 2007.
Pages:
165
Language:
English
Abstract:
Many Southeast Asian mental health clients possess cultural beliefs and practices surrounding mental illness that differ from Western mental health beliefs and practices. The field of mental health has employed bilingual/bicultural mental health providers in increasing numbers to bridge this cultural gap. There are specific interactions that take place between providers and patients who are of the same ethnicity and speak the same language that help to increase patients' understanding of their own mental illness within a Western framework. Before Southeast Asian patients can be full participants in Western mental health treatment, patients must have insight into their mental illness and must be oriented to Western mental health treatment. This dissertation describes a qualitative research project that explores the interactions that take place between minority providers and patients who share the same culture and language. Fifteen (N=15) bicultural Southeast Asian providers were interviewed. Analytic induction was used in data analysis. Using Markus & Kitayama's (1991) comparison of interdependent and independent perspectives among Asians and Westerners in mental health, I find that bicultural Southeast Asian mental health providers use concepts from both the interdependent and independent frameworks in their work with non-English speaking Southeast Asian mental health clients. This research suggests that cultural competency is a skill that not only includes culturally specific content knowledge, but culturally specific therapeutic process knowledge. It is pertinent that social work education provide increased training in the use of the interdependent framework in social work practice with ethnic minority clients.