Before, practicing culture in psychotherapy have not yet been realized, but since cultural factors effects the practice of psychotherapy, it cannot be ignored that cultural adjustment are needed in order to provide effective therapy. Since last decade, there has been an increase interest in cross-cultural psychotherapy, however, there are a lot of books that appear to have a negative writings and focusing only on the difficulties associated with cultural differences (Patterson, 1978). They emphasis on some aspects, such as the ability for the therapist to build a relationship, to accept the client, to understand the client as a person, avoid any type of stereotyping the client.
The other problem was the disagreement of the western approaches in counseling, which are known for the directive and controlling methods (Patterson, 1978). They assume that it is the therapist job to evaluate, define and giving advice to the client sometimes even imposing solution to the clients, without any consideration on the individual perceptions of the clients. Of course this will create a complication to clients from other culture, who might have to considerate their cultural belief.
The differences of culture are associated with different personality, individual in western cultures are more independent, compared to some other cultures, they do not have pressure to sacrifice themselves in the family. They are more extroverted, they are more verbal compared to other cultures (Patterson, 1978). This is the main reason why western approaches are not applicable to other cultures, because western individuals, they are open to introspection, more ready to self disclosure which is important especially in psychotherapy. In the other hand, people from oriental and some other culture are more reserved in talking about themselves and personal relationship with others including families, they are more respectful (Patterson, 1978).
In terms of the culture differences, research concluded that it is not necessary to develop new theories or approaches for counseling clients. There are only two major categories of problem, the first one is to relate an understanding of communication to the clients, the second is to relate those things to adapt the client behavior necessary for the therapy progress (Patterson, 1978). There are two barriers in understanding communication to the clients, the first is language, there is no doubt that therapist must be fluent in the clients language. The second barrier is the non verbal cues, it might be a problem, since the non verbal cues might be different in other culture or even the opposite.
Therefore, there are core conditions for effective psychotherapy which are empathic understanding, respect and nonpossesive warmth, and the last is therapeutic genuineness. Empathic understanding means therapist should listen to the clients, they must understand the world, and the last communicating this understanding to the clients. Respect is the most important thing, this is the part where the justice ethical principle came in, the therapist should not be judgmental, and see the client as a person, warmth meant by acceptance and concern to the clients. Therapeutic genuineness means the therapists have to be honest and sincere, as it is in the ethical principle of veracity.
Supporting the point above, Kitchner (1984) presumed that four basic ethical principles which are autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and fairness (justice) to be universally valued regardless of the cultural context. Autonomy refers to client’s freedom for self-determination. Beneficence refers to actions that promote the growth and development of the client. Nonmaleficence means refraining from hurting clients. Justice or fairness refers to equal treatment of all people.
Pedersen (2002) mention that the ethical dilemma faced by therapist is the fact that they are forced to choose between doing the right thing ethically, and bending the professional ethical guideline, or in the other hand, following the professional ethical guideline and disregarding the clients cultural context (as cited in Pedersen & Marsella, 1982).
No comments:
Post a Comment