Author Description

The volume helps readers understand the tremendous diversity among Asian American groups and individuals, while at the same time exploring the values and psychosocial concerns that many Asian Americans share. Drawing upon up-to-date research and extensive experience in the field, expert contributors highlight salient clinical issues, reinforce practical skills and techniques, and illuminate the relationship between cultural and interpersonal issues in therapeutic work. The volume first covers working with Asian American families. Following the introduction of a multisystem, problem-solving approach to family assessment and treatment, chapters apprise clinicians of the normative family structures, dynamics, and practices of major Asian American groups. The book provides key demographic information and helps readers understand the differences between Asian and Western families, as well as special issues facing immigrants and refugees. Developmental perspectives on treatment of Asian Americans from childhood to old age are then presented. Contributors probe the ways that life cycle issues - and utilization of mental health services - are affected by acculturation-related conflicts, the experience of societal prejudice, and prevalent beliefs about mental illness and health, and guide readers in their thinking about the goals and processes of therapeutic intervention. Next, the book addresses the prevalence and treatment of common psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depressive disorders, and PTSD, and evaluates the effectiveness of a variety of specific treatment modalities. A final section covers special topics including cross-cultural communication, intermarriage, women's and lesbian/gay concerns, domestic violence in Asian American communities, and religion and spirituality. An essential clinical guide, this book belongs on the shelf of every practitioner who treats Asian American families and individuals, as well as educators and students in a range of mental health fields. It serves as a supplementary text in clinical courses in psychology, psychiatry, family therapy, social work, counseling, and nursing.