Do received stereotypes about Asian clients apply to Chinese young adults? A survey of counselors in Chinese universities.

Abstract

Chinese counseling center counselors (N = 205) reported on their theoretical orientations, frequency of presenting concerns of their Chinese clients, and attitudes toward counseling among Chinese clients. Most Chinese counselors identified themselves as integrative or eclectic in theoretical orientation, with cognitive/cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic, and humanistic/humanistic-existential being the most popular approaches. They reported that college students in China seek counseling for a variety of concerns, the most common of which are relational and affect-oriented. Counselors reported that Chinese clients tend to seek behavioral treatments, view counselors as experts, and do not present strong opinions on stigma in receiving therapy. These findings show some divergence with literature for Western counselors on counseling with Chinese clients. Limitations and implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Acculturation and enculturation as predictors of psychological help-seeking attitudes (HSAs) among racial and ethnic minorities: A meta-analytic investigation.

“…empirical support for the value of culturally adapted treatments (Benish et al, 2011), the value of sensitivity to the client's worldview in articulating a therapeutic approach (Wampold, 2007), and the importance of conscious awareness of one's own cultural assumptions and modification of the approach to treatment based on information gathered from the client (e.g., Cuéllar & Paniagua, 2000;Sun, Hoyt, & Zhao, 2016). Finally, we note that within-group differences in HSAs may also be well explained by variables other than acculturation and enculturation (e.g., cultural mistrust, spirituality, and perceived campus/ community climate; Moreno & Cardemil, 2013;Nickerson et al, 1994;Whaley, 2001), particularly in non-Asian minority groups.…”

“…Namely, we should not assume that the small correlations between acculturation/enculturation and HSAs in these studies means that culture and worldview are unimportant factors in treatment outcomes. Counselors and psychotherapists working with racial and ethnic minority clients should be aware of the empirical support for the value of culturally adapted treatments (Benish et al, 2011), the value of sensitivity to the client’s worldview in articulating a therapeutic approach (Wampold, 2007), and the importance of conscious awareness of one’s own cultural assumptions and modification of the approach to treatment based on information gathered from the client (e.g., Cuéllar & Paniagua, 2000; Sun, Hoyt, & Zhao, 2016).…”