Hypnotherapy And The Cross Cultural Practice

 By Kevin P Walder Cht

  

As a country of immigrants we as Americans engaged in the Counseling professions must be aware that many of us including many of our potential clients came from somewhere else.

 Cultural differences exist on many levels, the most obvious being, religious and ethnic differences. Other less recognizable differences exist on the level of social and economic differences, environmental differences, and gender identification differences. All of these groups can be broken down into countless sub groups, which is an entire field of study to itself.

 The key to successfully working within our diverse culture is to make no assumptions. Learning to identify your client begins with the initial interview, asking questions that are neither leading nor judgmental. Gathering all the information you will need to be successful with your client is the beginning of healing.

 In a class I once attended the instructor was attempting to demonstrate how repetition can induce a hypnotic response. He began the demonstration with: “Two all beef patties...” , and we as a class finished the entire jingle. It was an effective demonstration since it had been several years since this particular advertisement had been part of our daily routine. However one student missed the point of this demonstration. Having been raised and educated in England she did not have the “benefit” of exposure to this advertisement.

 Every part of a client's experience has a bearing on the conditioning you and he/she will work though. Sensitivity to these experiences is key to an ethical practice. When you consider the experience of some immigrant groups, such as those who immigrated from Indochina and their experience of war and hardship as they made their way to this country, or those immigrating from Central and South America who escaped extreme poverty it becomes central to your therapy with these clients.

 As is always the case begin with yourself. Are you starting from a neutral position? Examining your own thoughts and emotions, do you find yourself harboring any prejudices? Do you feel the need to overcompensate by being overly authoritative, condescending, or patronizing to this particular client?

 Remember that no amount of lip service can conceal your body language and your expression. Being perfectly clear with yourself is crucial to a successful outcome. When you are confident that you can treat this client with dignity and compassion you are ready to take the next step.

 The next important part of your work is how will your client respond to you? If you are working with a client who has a strong sense of being exploited by members of your own culture and ethnicity, you may encounter a great deal of resentment and distrust. This is where the interchange between therapist and client is especially important. Will you be tempted to overcompensate in the face of animosity from your client?

 After settling into a working relationship it is time to explore your clients belief systems. One core belief that you will want to understand from your client is his/her perception of life.

 Does your client see life as finite or infinite? Does your client see life as a preparation for another world or an evolutionary process to be perfected? This part of the interview is all about your client and the central beliefs in his/her life, you are not required to agree or affirm any of them, but you are required to accept them as your client's truth.

 How does your client see themselves in their world environment? Do they see themselves in a position of strength or are they projecting themselves into a position of servitude? How do they see themselves in their new environment? Do you detect any feelings of helplessness in their responses?

 Next you'll want to explore your client's basic value system. What is their definition of morality and how does that impact their life? Do they indicate feelings of guilt based on their morality? Once again allow this to be about your client, you are not required to adopt his/her morality, but you are required to accept it as real for your client.

 One major consideration we have not discussed is language. It is important that you be able to communicate effectively with your client. It is possible to do some  very good work when your language is a second language to your client. Know when it is time to refer to a therapist who speaks their language, for example if you have regressed your client to a childhood event and he/she has not yet learned your language you may get some confusing responses.

 If you are not acquainted with the culture of your client it is imperative that you gather information from the client. Making assumptions will only serve to confound the process you both seek and create an atmosphere of distrust between you and your client.

 Bear in mind that some issues which present in your session may not be limited to your client, but could, in fact, be cultural issues and may not be indicative of individual issues. These will be more challenging to work with and may be beyond the scope of your practice.

 As you proceed to the work of healing with your client you will want to pay special attention to the desires of your client. Allow the client to create the imagery you will use in healing and allow them to retain some control of the session. Especially when working with women from certain cultures this may be somewhat difficult for them, as they are not accustomed to exercising control in their lives.

 By approaching the cross cultural client with openness and compassion you will find success. Remembering to establish rapport based on respect and an ethical approach will lay the groundwork for some real healing work. Giving yourself permission to learn as you work will make you a better listener and keep you from making assumptions about any client whoever they are and from wherever they came.

 

 

 Bibliography

 Herr, Edwin L.                       Counseling In A Dynamic Society

                                                American Counseling Association Press

                                                Alexandria, Virginia USA  1989

 Schweder, Richard A.            Thinking Through Cultures

                                                Harvard University Press

                                                Cambridge, MA USA  1991

 

Rossi, Ernest L.                     Mind-Body Therapy

Cheek, David B.                     W. W. Norton & Co.

                                                New York, NY USA  1988

 

                                   

 

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