Cultural family systems and counselling, psychotherapy
Eastern societies and families within cultures from generational and ancestral lineage tend to promote collectivism within family dynamics. In other words ‘the family’, is the ‘group’, as opposed to promoting social cohesion or independence, although this may not strictly apply to individual households.
Traditional family set-ups from Eastern backgrounds are typically joined with at times generations living in the household making the cohesion quite integrated as opposed to promoting independence or ‘own space’ within the home. There are off course benefits to this set up such as support, taking care of each other under the same roof and being there to take care of elders or if someone is unwell. However, with positives comes negatives too, where the enmeshment can become quite integrated that separation for independence or growth can become an issue whereas in the West that would be seen as the norm of even expected. Furthermore, immigrant families from the East residing in the West becomesq a culture clash for newer generations and often times can result in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression or feeling stuck or misunderstood.
The typical family set up in times gone by has disintegrated in general, with societal changes seeing the disintegration of the joint family and rise of nuclear or extended family system.
In relation to counselling and psychotherapy, it is imperative for a counsellor to have the knowledge and understanding of cultural differences when working with family related issues. Unlike western society, which puts impetus on “individualism”, eastern society is very much focused on “collectivistic” in that it promotes interdependence and co-operation, with the family forming the focal point of the social structure. To this effect families from eastern cultural backgrounds are therefore, more involved in caring of its members within the households and are also susceptible of suffering greater illness burden than western counterparts.
Families can also in some instances form a valuable support system, that can be helpful in management of various stressful situations, perhaps in the absence or lack of mental health service. Or if there is lack of counsellors whom have the cultural understanding and awareness. When looking for counselling it is imperative to find someone to work with who is culturally informed and ‘understands’ the differences and complexities from eastern cultures given the fact psychotherapy models themselves were initially derived from western professors geared toward counselling the ‘individual’.
A culturally informed counsellor will understand without having to explain one’s culture. The awareness about eastern counterparts such as restrictions, traditions, immigrant parental expectations would already be encompassed in the culturally informed counsellor. There would be a concurrent sense of understanding when working with clients from eastern backgrounds, upbringing, essence, their soul that may be deeply rooted in their conditioning from parents and society. Working with a counsellor who either is or understands eastern cultures will fit more seamlessly due to their innate knowing and being able to sensitively apply counselling models (be it western philosophies) mindfully in your therapeutic journey by incorporating the ‘collectivism’ or the family structure.
Typically, eastern society is collectivistic and promotes social cohesion and interdependence. However, with changing society one of the most significant alterations being the disintegration of the joint family and the rise of nuclear and extended family system further lends itself to those from immigrant parental families living in the west. Family focused psychotherapeutic interventions can be the right tool for greater involvement of family members suffering with theirm mental health. This article elaborates on eastern, indian family systems in the light of Asian collectivistic culture that are pertinent in psychotherapy.
Unlike western society, which puts impetus on “individualism”, eastern society is “collectivistic” in that it promotes interdependence and co-operation, with the family forming the focal point of this social structure. Indian, asian families are therefore, far more involved in caring of its members, and also suffer greater illness burden than their western counterparts.
I am culturally informed counsellor specialising in family dynamics. If you are looking for mental health support in a confidential setting, please book an appointment to discuss Counselling.