Ethnocultural Considerations in Family Therapy

Concepts of culture occur in multiple aspects of American life, particularly in family relationships. Family therapists must view troubled families through a cultural lens to best assess, diagnose, and treat them. This includes understanding basic tenets of a culture, demonstrating respect, and developing an awareness of one’s own culture. The purpose of this paper is to examine ethnicity, acculturation, and culturally competent family therapy interventions for five major “ethnocultures” prevalent in communities in the United States. Acknowledging the influence of ethnocultural factors helps the family therapist to understand how families view their problems and how they can be successfully treated.