Cultural Psychotherapy: Theory

Written by a leading expert in the field of culturally competent psychotherapeutic practice, this book presents an integrated psychotherapeutic framework designed to help students and practitioners understand, investigate and treat clients from diverse cultural backgrounds (including all races and backgrounds). La Roche introduces a logical theoretical model that takes into account the influence of sociopolitical, economic and cultural processes (e.g., discrimination, cultural oppression, economic inequities) within the psychotherapeutic process. In addition to highlighting socio-cultural forces, La Roche focuses on and emphasizes the psychotherapeutic relationship and the client′s unique history and experiences. Using a three-phased psychotherapeutic model with specific clinical recommendations and suggestions for each phase, the book explores complex clinical cases that illustrate in detail each phase.

Unique in its approach to and definition of the concept of cultural diversity, Cultural Psychotherapy expands the traditional ethnicity/race model to a model that examines individuals and groups according to a broader set of variables (e.g., ethnic identity, self-orientation, gender orientation, and socioeconomic class). In other words, the key to enhancing our understanding of our clients is to take into account the rich and dynamic context in which their lives develop and evolve.