Solution-Focused Body-Mind-Spirit (SF-BMS) Group Therapy for Mental Health and Trauma Symptoms Among Asian American Youth: A Mixed Methods Pilot Evaluation

Abstract

Solution-focused and body-mind-spirit practices have shown promising evidence for addressing various mental health and trauma-related problems, though there is limited research regarding their joint application. In addition, Asian American youth are often underrepresented in social work intervention literature despite increasing risk of negative effects from anti-Asian hate and violence since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Solution-Focused Body-Mind-Spirit (SF-BMS) group therapy is a novel intervention approach with roots in traditional Eastern and postmodern Western philosophies that may be particularly applicable for the cross-cultural experience of second-generation immigrants from Southeast Asian countries. This study conducted a mixed methods pilot evaluation of SF-BMS group therapy with Asian American youth and found modest pre–post improvements in overall problems and qualitative evidence of the intervention’s acceptability.