Clinical Challenges in Working with Asian Immigrant Women and Their Families

This counseling-practice oriented paper examines clinical challenges that therapists face in working with Asian immigrant women and their families. Salient Asian cultural factors are discussed to help non-Asian therapists gain a better understanding of their Asian clients in a therapeutic relationship. A clinical case vignette is incorporated in the paper to illustrate how cultural factors influence Asian immigrant women and their families in therapy. A case-study method was employed in this present study as a method of data collection. The results reflect that cultural competence is greatly needed when working with Asian immigrant women and their families, taking into consideration the systemic nature of this population’s ways handling both individual and familial struggles with mental health issues. Lastly, the paper offers therapists/clinicians culturally sensitive therapeutic assessment and intervention strategies that are deemed effective in working with Asian immigrant women and their families struggling with mental health issues