Training Family Therapists in a Multicultural Setting

Authors describe a multicultural training model for family therapists and psychologists at a traditionally conservative Afrikaans speaking university in South Africa. Black psychologists are now receiving high priority in a masters degree program that leads to professional registration licensure because of the needs of the population. The authors emphasize the importance of being able to think multidimensionally and creating a context in which students can do the same in such contexts.     

Aging and Family Therapy: Exploring The Training and Knowledge of Family Therapists

The present study examined therapists' training in aging issues, and their knowledge and attitudes about aging. One hundred and ninety-one clinicians completed a web-based questionnaire. The majority of respondents reported to have some training in aging issues, although they did not believe it prepared them well to work with older clients. Clinicians reported feeling comfortable working with older adults, yet they also agreed that special training could benefit their work. Knowledge scores were significantly correlated with interest in aging issues, perceived importance of training, perceived competence, and perceived effectiveness in treating older adults. Research and clinical implications are discussed.     

Integration: Opportunities and Challenges for Family Therapists in Primary Care

Integration of behavioral and physical health is becoming critical for the overburdened primary care system. Policy changes are needed to accommodate integration nationally. Locally, medical and behavioral health providers are working together to create models that better fit their patients?? comprehensive needs while respecting the clinical, operational, and financial constraints of the current system. Family therapists trained to work in medical settings have an opportunity to emerge as clinical, research, and administrative leaders in this context. However, a paradigm shift is crucial to adapting their systemic orientation to interactions between individual patients, providers, staff, and healthcare and support systems. This article provides family therapists with: (1) an overview of the basic structure and barriers of integration, (2) suggestions on how to deliver quality care despite barriers at the local level, and (3) examples of key advocacy efforts representing possible entryways on a larger scale.     

Levels of Family Systems Thinking: Differences Between Chinese and German Therapists

This study compares levels of systemic thinking between Chinese and German systemic family therapists when conceptualizing a clinical case. Furthermore, it explores the relationships between levels of systemic thinking and several variables of clinical training and practice. Eighty-two Chinese and seventy-six German systemic family therapists participated in this study. Significant differences in levels of systemic thinking and significant predictors for these levels were found. Limitations of this study and implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. This study is one of the first to compare the case conceptualizations between systemic family therapists in China and Germany.     

Training Therapists to Be Culturally Sensitive with Asian American Women Clients

SUMMARY

We describe here a developmental sequence of three key training experiences that contribute to developing cultural sensitivity for clinicians who are not of Asian heritage and are working with Asian American women. The sequence reflects and illustrates our guiding assumptions for developing multicultural sensitivity, including an emphasis on cultural self-awareness and a reflexive approach to knowledge acquisition and clinical practice. Effects of these training experiences are illustrated through three case examples of therapy with Asian American women written by an African American male and two European American female therapists at different stages in their training.     

Family and Systems Therapy and Training in Portugal

The history of systemic family therapy in Portugal since its appearance until the present is discussed. Some data on systemic family therapists’ training is provided in the context of the Portuguese Society of Family Therapy and Academic Institutions. In Portugal, family therapy has been extended to various contexts, including medical and community services. Finally, future directions for family and systems therapy practice and training in Portugal are provided emphasizing the importance of family interventions as an important resource to empower families living with health chronic conditions. The Portuguese Family Therapy Society, every 2 years, organizes a scientific Iberian conference with Portuguese and Spanish speakers. This allows the exchange of clinical experience and research about family and systems theory.     

A Profile of Chinese Family Therapists

It is helpful for professional organizations, policy makers and regulators, third-party payers, and clients to have access to empirical data about family therapists and the practice of family therapy. Nevertheless, there is no such data available in China. This study attempts to fill this gap by profiling Chinese family therapists. A questionnaire was designed and delivered to family therapists and trainees. A total of 117 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The findings show that the majority of Chinese family therapists are female, in the age range of 31–40 years, hold master’s degrees, and attend continuous training programs that last 20–40 days over 2–3 years and short-term workshops for family therapy training. They are mainly motivated by the need for personal growth in their career choice. Most of them work in the institutional setting. They have worked in the counseling field for 6.6 years on average, and they have practiced family therapy for an average of 3.4 years. They perform counseling for 9.2 h per week, and 4 h involve working with families. They received an average of 30.6 h of family therapy supervision in the past year. They mainly see individuals and families with adolescents, and their approach is eclectic. This paper compares the findings in China with findings from North America, discusses possible reasons for differences in the findings, and provides suggestions for future development and studies of family therapy in China.     

Family Physicians and Family Therapists: Understanding the Interdependent Synergism

This article, written by a family physician and a family therapist, is designed to identify differences between these two cultures that may serve as stumbling blocks to successful meeting of occupants of these two worlds. With the differences identified and described, various notions and suggestions are offered in an effort to promote more successful bridging between these two groups. There is little question about the synergistic impact that can be engendered for recipients of their care should this bridging be successfully navigated. The present day realities in healthcare make this an idea whose time has not just come, but rather seems imperative.     

Training Family Therapists to Work with Children: Competence,Relevance, and Interest Ratings in the Field of Family Therapy

The main purpose of this investigation was to conduct a preliminary needs assessment in the field of marriage and family therapy regarding perceived training needs for working with children in family therapy. Data for the needs assessment was collected using a survey methodology. The needs assessment gathered information on the level of competence, level of relevance, and level of training interest in the field of marriage and family therapy for specific child-related content areas. The implications of these findings on clinical practice and training programs are discussed. The limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are provided.     

The Constructive Use of Power and the Philosophy of the Self in the Training of Family Therapists

Abstract

This article presents findings from an exploratory qualitative study, which used individual interviews and a focus group to investigate how women in Black-White interracial heterosexual partner relationships retrospectively described their racial identity development and the influence of gender identity development on this process. Social consrructionist, feminist, and racial identity development theories guided the grounded theory methodology. Participants described both constraining and empowering racial identities. Salient constraining racial identities were being a “sell-out” or “traitor,” being a “rule-breaker,” having a masked reference group orientation, needing to prove reference group orientation, and having minority family status. Empowering racial identities included refusing to take sides, being “not racial,” being neutral, identifying by respect rather than by race, having a multiple reference group orientation, being strong, and being an educator and mediator.

Gender identity themes of strength and resiliency emerged as significant influences in racial identity development. Suggested questions for use within a narrative therapy context provide a clinical application of findings from the study.     

Therapists: Their Attitudes and Information About Women

The Therapists'Information About Women Scale (TIWS) and Therapists'Attitude Toward Women Scale (TAWS) are presented. Results from a sample of 184 therapists (social workers, psychiatrists, and psychologists) showed no significant differences among professions; however, women therapists were significantly better informed, more liberal, and less stereotyped in their attitudes. Information and attitudes were correlated.57. Though attitudes were more liberal than stereotyped, many therapists showed a lack of pertinent information and attitudes likely to conflict with those of their women patients.     

Family Resilience and the Management of Fibromyalgia: Implications for Family Therapists

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is one of the most troubling rheumatic disorders for patients, significant others, and the health care providers who treat them. Responses from 150 participants provided valuable information on the relationship between family resilience and the management of fibromyalgia. Self reported family stressors, strains, and distress were significantly associated with an increase in health problems/functional disability, whereas family hardiness and family social support were associated with a decrease. Family stressors and family strains were also positively associated with the frequency of medication use. Medical family therapy interventions that consider the familial context are recommended for treatment. Additional implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. J. Cameron Preece, PhD, Sage Health Care, PLLC, 339 Allumbaugh Street, Boise, ID 83704. Jonathan G. Sandberg, PhD, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244. (jgandbe@syr.edu) Special thanks go to Linda Stone Fish, PhD, for her support and guidance throughout the study.     

Characteristics of E-therapy Websites Involving Marriage and Family Therapists

This study described some of the common ethical and legal issues that mental health professionals practicing over the Internet or phone may encounter. It also explored how 83 e-therapy websites involving marriage and family therapists characterize their services. Results indicated that a majority of the websites lack information regarding crisis resources, terms of service, procedures for treatment of minors, and procedures for provision of therapy across borders. Further findings indicated that practitioners may have not properly considered the global nature of the Internet and its risks. Therapists are urged to give attention to e-therapy limitations, as well as ethical and legal problems, before attempting distance treatment.     

Immigration as a Dynamic Experience: Personal Narratives and Clinical Implications for Family Therapists

This is a reflective account of the experiences of the authors who immigrated to the United States from India at different developmental, historical, political, and social stages. Although their culture-of-origin was the same, the meaning and experience of immigration was different for each author. The narratives show a natural continuum of experiences based on their developmental stage during immigration, reasons for immigration, and the historical context of both India and the US at the time of immigration. A common theme is the ambivalence experienced by them in their process of creating a physical and psychological home in a different culture.     

Rural Marriage and Family Therapists: A Pilot Study

Marriage and family therapists practice in more than a third of the rural counties in the United States. However, little is known about the practice patterns of marriage and family therapists who practice in rural settings. This pilot study examined the clinical practice and community involvement of a sample of licensed marriage and family therapists in rural Texas. The results contribute to a small but developing body of research about a relatively unknown group of practitioners.