Transition and Change in Collectivist Family Life ― Strategies for Clinical Practice With Asian Americans

This research-to-practice volume grounds clinicians in a robust, culturally-informed framework for conducting effective therapy with Asian-American couples, families, and individuals. Family, cultural, social, and spiritual dynamics are explored across ethnicities, generations, relationships, and immigrant/citizen experience to reflect a diverse, growing population. Discussion and case examples focus on contrasts, conflicts, and balances involved in acculturation and change, notably the shift from collectivist cultural tradition to a more independent view of the self, gender, choices, and relationships. The contributors’ finely shaded guidance and accessible approach will help therapists provide appropriate services for Asian-American clients without minimizing or pathologizing their experiences.

Included in the coverage:

• How Asian American couples negotiate relational harmony: collectivism and gender equality.
  
• Through religion: working-class Korean immigrant women negotiate patriarchy.
  
• The role of Chinese grandparents in their adult children’s parenting practices in the United States.
  
• Balancing the old and the new: the case of second generation Filipino American women.
  
• Bicultural identity as a protective factor among Southeast Asian American youth who have witnessed domestic violence.
  

Transition and Change in Collectivist Family Life is a cogent clinical resource for practitioners and mental health professionals with interests in Asian-American family therapy, psychotherapy, collectivism, and faith-based community and counseling.

Karen Mui-Teng Quek, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC is currently Associate Professor and Program Director of Marital and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling programs at Bethel Seminary, Bethel University, San Diego, CA. Her research interest is in the study of familial and dyadic relationships which examine the interplay of various diversity constructs in the context of evolving societal changes. Her research data includes Greek couples from Athens, Greece; Singaporean couples from Singapore; Asian American couples from the US, Korean fathers from Seoul, Korea, and Chinese MFT professionals from Mainland China. Dr. Quek has contributed substantially to academic literature on relational changes associated with marginalization, diversity, power, multiculturalism and internationalism.

Dr. Shi-Ruei Sherry Fang, Ph.D. is a professor in the School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences at Northern Illinois University. Her research mainly focuses on social justice issues, especially those relate to Asian Americans. She has studied parent-child relationships in immigrant families.