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Bilingualism and systemic psychotherapy: some formulations and explorations
Author(s) -
Karamat Ali Ramón
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-6427
pISSN - 0163-4445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6427.2004.00288.x
Subject(s) - neuroscience of multilingualism , plea , multilingualism , psychology , perspective (graphical) , family therapy , psychotherapist , systemic therapy , sociology , pedagogy , medicine , political science , neuroscience , cancer , artificial intelligence , breast cancer , computer science , law
Bilingualism has risen dramatically due to increased migration patterns all over the world. This paper offers an overview of the current literature dealing specifically with bi‐ and multilingualism, and identifies a gap in systemic and family therapy literature about the subject of bilingualism. In the light of this, the author proposes a working definition of bilingual families. Some case examples illustrate different aspects of working systemically with a bilingual family and highlight potential challenges for a therapist, such as the assumption of more knowledge and expertise. The tools suggested relate to a rethinking of some modernist ideas regarding hypothesizing, and both the use of a social constructionist perspective and of self of the (bilingual) family therapist. A case is made for the exploration of meanings of difference including the lingua‐cultural one. The author ends with a plea to start including more specific cultural issues such as bilingualism in systemic therapy practice.