Women and Therapy
Volume 41, Issue 1-2, 2018, Pages 149-164

Indigenous Healing Practices and Asian Immigrant Women (Article)

Wang S.C.* , Iwamasa G.Y.
  • a Department of Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, United States
  • b Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Central Office, Office of Mental Health Operations, Washington, DC, United States

Abstract

The current article highlights the importance of indigenous psychology for Asian immigrant women. A brief overview is provided about Asian American immigration and the importance of understanding women’s experiences with the contextual lens of gender, ethnicity, and race. Key values relevant to help-seeking and service utilization are also presented. Complementary alternative approaches to Western-based mental health treatment are discussed as ways in which feminist and multicultural treatment approaches can be integrated. Given the inherent diversity of Asians and Asian Americans, which includes over 60 ethnic subgroups, the article is not meant to provide an exhaustive list of available native practices nor to reflect the experiences of Asians as a homogenous group. Instead, the goal of this article is to provide readers with an understanding of how culturally based healing practices and concepts are needed to complement and contribute to our extant understanding of help-seeking. We conclude by highlighting the ways in which Western-based healthcare would benefit by integrating indigenous practices with gender and ethnic/racial cultural perspectives. © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Multicultural therapy Feminist therapy complementary and alternative medicine/therapy indigenous healing Asian immigrant women

Index Keywords

male Asian American human female immigrant feminism ethnicity alternative medicine race human experiment mental health immigration gender psychology

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85021207560&doi=10.1080%2f02703149.2017.1330917&partnerID=40&md5=372af668a97c804ca042105838844958

DOI: 10.1080/02703149.2017.1330917
ISSN: 02703149
Original Language: English