When Russians Come to Therapy

In this article, a California-based Russian-speaking therapist, with experience working with Russian clients, both in Russia and with immigrants in the United States, shares her knowledge and experiences and introduces the culture and the specific traits and beliefs that the Russian clients brought with them to the United States. Dr. Shain, a psychotherapist who has had many years of experience working with Russian-speaking immigrant families at San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Inc, California, provides an extensive literature review and results of his research. Ms. Leipzig points out the importance of developing a flexible method while working with Russian clients and cites an experience of Daniel Panitz, a prominent New York clinician and program developer, whose efforts brought significant understanding in selecting therapeutic methods for Russian immigrant clients.     

Response to Commentaries

In replying to the commentaries, I continue to explore differences between a complexity model of the mind and an intrapsychic one, and elaborate aspects of the complex negotiation process that occurred between my patient, Kerri, and me. Taking up Chefetz's notion that a “change in self-state predicts observed fluctuations in the capacity to mentalize,” I consider ways that self-states in both the patient and analyst fluctuate, influence, and reorganize the unfolding process, including the systemic capacity to mentalize.