This article describes how cultures and pastoral care education processes can be barriers between the patient, the pastoral caregiver, and the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) student. By providing sketches of interviews with Chinese patients, the author tries to explain why the attempt to unveil Chinese patients' feelings and needs through conversation can be a frustrating experience. Moreover, the author argues that the pedagogy of pastoral care education ought to be more culturally sensitive in regard to the diverse cultural backgrounds of both patients and CPE students.

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China Pastoral Care psychological aspect methodology human Professional-Patient Relations ethnology human relation United States Humans Asian Americans Asian American counseling Chaplaincy Service, Hospital cultural factor Article migration Emigration and Immigration hospital subdivisions and components Cultural Characteristics clergy attitude to health