Asian American slides

Chapter 9 Understanding
Asian American Clients
 “Asian” refers to peoples from the Far
East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian
subcontinent
 “Pacific Islander” refers to peoples
from Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, and other
Pacific Islands
 Rapidly increasing populations in U.S.

Baruth and Manning Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
1 All Rights Reserved.
Multicultural Counseling and Psychotherapy, 4th ed.

Chapter 9 States with Significant
Numbers of Asian Americans


Chapter 9 Regions of Residence
by Region of the U.S.


Chapter 9 Poverty Status for
Selected Age Groups


Chapter 9
Children:
 Often considered “model minority”
 Behavior
 Achievement


Chapter 9
Children – Communication:
 Often come from bilingual
backgrounds
 English as second language
 AAC – augmentative and alternative
communication


Chapter 9
Children - Families
 View elders with respect and
reverence
 Learn specific family roles
 Influenced by high family expectations
of achievement
 Powerful message to not bring shame
to family


Chapter 9
Adolescents:
 Population aged 15 – 19 expected to
rise to 1.17 million by 2010
 Cultural emphasis placed on diligence,
harmony, respect for elders, and family
loyalty
 Academic stereotypes mask
individuality


Chapter 9
Adolescents – Communication:

 Recognize difficulty with English
 Nonverbal communication


Chapter 9
Adolescents – Families:
 Rigidly defined roles
 Son prized above daughter; given
more responsibility and greater
influence
 Family exerts control over
interpersonal conduct and social
relationships
 Avoidance of shame

Chapter 9
Adolescents – Challenges:
 Family loyalty
 Achievement expectations
 Acculturation
 Rigid gender roles


Chapter 9
Adults:
 11.8% lived in poverty (2003)
 18.7% lived without health insurance
(2003)
 Stereotypes of economic and
employment status
 Reluctant to discuss problems
 Religious values

Chapter 9
Adults – Communication:
 Speak at least 32 languages
 Uncomfortable with confrontation and
assertiveness
 Syntax, word endings, and terminology


Chapter 9
Adults – Families:
 Family first
 Cultural value of humility
 Family honor


Chapter 9 Family Types
Among Asian Americans


Chapter 9
Adults – Challenges:
 Communication problems
 Common stereotypes
 Conflicting cultural expectations


Chapter 9
Elderly:
 Population age 65 and over 13.5% by
2010
 Experienced racism, injustices, and
discrimination
 Many lack formal education
 Acculturation of various generations


Chapter 9 Asian Populations:
60 and Over


Chapter 9
Elderly – Communication:
 Reside in ethnic communities
 Unlikely to undertake learning a new
language


Chapter 9
Elderly – Families:
 Generational acculturation levels


Chapter 9
Elderly – Challenges:
 Belief that assistance is unnecessary
 Health issues
 Language barriers
 Poverty
 Drug use and suicide
 Increasing generational differences


Chapter 10 Counseling Asian
American Clients
 Potential problems for children:
 Failure to develop a strong cultural
identity
 Belief in “model minority” fallacy
 Differing cultural characteristics
 Conflicting cultural values
 Pressures to excel
 Communication problems

Chapter 10 Counseling Asian
American Clients
 Potential problems for children:
 Moving from family-centered world to
peer-centered world
 Family conflicts caused by that moving
 Parents unwilling to accept Western
viewpoints
 Smaller physical size


Chapter 10 Children -
Counseling Considerations:
 Determine individual strengths
 Determine degree of acculturation
 Understand reluctance to disclose
information to strangers
 Understand avoidance of confrontation
and/or emotional intensity
 Learn about the individual

Chapter 10 Children –
Individual and Group Therapy:
 Minimize competition
 Focus on the present
 Include parents and elders
 Take the role of mentor


Chapter 10
Children – Family Therapy:
 Child may be reluctant to speak in
front of parents
 Father speaks for entire family
 May reflect poorly on the family


Chapter 10
Adolescents:
 Potential problems for adolescents:
 Failure to develop a strong cultural identity
 Belief in “model minority” stereotype
 Failure to meet behavior expectations
 Differing family cultural characteristics
 Conflicting cultural values, i.e. individualism vs.
family


Chapter 10
Adolescents:
 Potential problems for adolescents:
 Conflicting cultural values, e.g.,
individualism vs. family
 Generational differences
 Developmental differences
 Expanding social interests
 Affects of racism and discrimination


Chapter 10 Adolescents –
 Seek advice from family not
professionals
 Acculturation and generational
differences
 Nonverbal communication styles
 Nondisclosure


 Build credibility for mental health
services (career counseling)
 Group therapy may threaten family
honor
 Nondisclosure


Family Therapy:
 Clients expect counselor to be more
directive than passive
 Counselor must convey confidence
and disclose educational and work
backgrounds


Chapter 10
Adults:
 Potential problems for adults:
 Acceptance of “model minority” stereotype
 Effects of historical and contemporary
discrimination
 Low socioeconomic status
 Belief that discussing problems causes the
problems


Chapter 10
Adults:
 Potential problems for adults:
 Rigid, authoritarian family structures
 Acculturation
 Seeking aid reflects poorly on family
 Midlife problems
 Marriage and family situations


Chapter 10 Adults –
 Value interdependence, self-control,
and repression of emotions
 Short-term, goal-oriented solutions
 Stigma of mental illness – “bad blood”


Chapter 10 Counseling
Chinese American clients:
 Modulate voice tone
 Ask questions at appropriate times
 Demonstrate self confidence
 Do not paraphrase client
 Remain relatively still and project
expert persona
 Offer self-disclosing remarks

Vietnamese American clients:
 Build trust and concern for client &
family
 Understand and address
communication barriers
 Understand rigidly defined gender
roles


South Asian American clients:
 Respect cultural identity and worldview
 Understand level of acculturation
 Clarify spiritual identity
 Provide multidimensional interventions
 Recognize life stage and age
 Client may not understand your
nonverbal communication

South Asian American clients:
 Recognize the role of humility
 Respect client’s integrity
 Clarify spiritual identity
 Allow yourself to be educated
 Use a relational style


 Counselor self-exploration
 Client orientation
 Group composition
 Rapport building
 Group orientation
 Group facilitation


 Suggestions for group leaders:
 Conduct an assessment
 Challenge members
 Test assumptions by verifying information
outside of group
 Help members receive feedback


Chapter 10
Adults – Family Therapy:
 Focuses on one family member
 Protects the dignity of the individual
and preserves the honor of the family
 Allows defining of family relationships


Chapter 10
Elderly:
 Potential problems of elderly:
 Stereotypes
 Double or multiple jeopardy
 Discrimination and prejudice
 Cultural differences
 Poor language skills
 Distrust of agencies


Chapter 10
Elderly:
 Potential problems of elderly:
 Lack of education
 Reluctance to disclose personal
information
 Problems with developmental tasks
 Lack of systemically kept records
 Health concerns
 Communication or cultural barriers

Chapter 10 Elderly –
 Differing intergenerational
expectations
 Undemonstrative demeanor


Chapter 10 Elderly –
 Reluctance to reveal problems
 “Paying to talk” is difficult concept
 Emotional difficulties converted to
physical problems


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