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Towards a Multicultural Society: Family Therapy with Greek Families †
Author(s) -
Stagoll Brian
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
australian journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1467-8438
pISSN - 0156-8779
DOI - 10.1002/j.1467-8438.1980.tb00137.x
Subject(s) - multiculturalism , family therapy , interpreter , negotiation , ethnic group , psychological intervention , cultural sensitivity , intervention (counseling) , value (mathematics) , psychology , psychotherapist , social psychology , sociology , computer science , pedagogy , psychiatry , machine learning , programming language , social science , anthropology
Language and cultural differences can pose barriers to effective intervention in migrant families in conflict. Family therapy approaches can provide some useful strategies for overcoming these obstacles. A family therapy approach can (1) emphasise the value of utilizing natural network support systems; (2) provide a model which helps clarify communication problems arising in the relay of information through a third person acting as an interpreter; (3) underline the importance of non‐verbal and process aspects of family communication; (4) suggest techniques for negotiating, joining, and finding commonalities of family experience between a therapist and family of different ethnic background. The therapist needs to develop sensitivity to both the universal and specific ethno‐cultural structures, norms and problems of families; when this sensitivity is achieved powerful and culturally syntonic healing forces can be released. Examples of successful family therapy interventions in some Greek families in conflict are given.