As a therapist, you may find yourself at a brick wall when you try to treat Middle Eastern, North African, South American, Asian, and other clients with psychotherapeutic techniques formulated in the West. Cross-Cultural Counseling: The Arab-Palestinian Case illustrates that the construction of self, community, and society is remarkably different in Arab countries. This text suggests a biopsychosocial approach to treating psychological disorders among Arab clients and highlights differences in the prevalence and manifestation of psychological disorders among peoples of South/Eastern backgrounds, as compared to what is known in the West.
Key Features
- Different sociopolitical situations in Arab countries and the maintenance of authoritarian and collectivistic culture
- Psychocultural features of Arabs
- Socialization in Arab homes and schools
- Help-seeking behaviour among Arabs and poor mental health outcomes
Additional Information
This text emphasises that only certain aspects of Western psychotherapy can be adapted to respond to the unique sociopolitical conditions and cultural factors affecting the mental health of people raised to consider community needs over self needs and desires. You’ll gain an education and understanding from Cross-Cultural Counseling that helps you provide more effective services to Arabs and Palestinians to meet their mental health needs. It also challenges therapists to discard their misconceptions and biases about people who don’t fit the Western mould in terms of individualization, identity, and personality.
