Assignment Overview
Cultural variance applied to therapy assignment
Over the last few weeks, we have reviewed and discussed multiple concepts and ideas on culture within the therapeutic context. As we’ve seen there are multiple meanings to behaviors, thoughts, spiritual beliefs, and social engagement which are directly linked to the overarching culture that an individual subscribes to. This fact alone creates a complexity with regards to social engagement and interaction that only clear, unassuming, and limited bias communication between individuals can untangle. This assignment asks you to review the provided vignette and from your therapeutic platform offer ways in which you would work with the clients identified below. Vignette Lisa, Ben and their two children have come to therapy to address the stress of a life altering situation. Mary age 14, recently shared with the family that she is a transgender teen. As the information was shared with you (therapist) Mary in a matter of fact voice stated that she now prefers to be known as Mario. As the session progressed, it was shared that Mary first came out to her mother Lisa about three months ago. Since that time Mary has been exhibiting many psychosocial and psychosomatic symptoms, such as panic attacks, anger, anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia. While speaking with her mother (3 months ago), Mary expressed her wish to have none of the details shared with Lisa revealed to anyone including her father Ben. Lisa and Ben also have a 10-year-old son John, who has been previously identified as having attention deficit hyperactive disorder and other symptoms that have made his social interaction with peers and family members challenging. Recently, Lisa’s sister figured out that Mary had undergone a change that puberty could not explain and was able to get Lisa to acknowledge that she (Lisa) needed to share the kept secret with Ben. Lisa’s sister highlighted that maintaining the secret was actually a betrayal of the marriage while minimizing the parental role Ben maintained as the father to Mary and John. After careful contemplation, Lisa sat with Mary and gave her the evening to share the situation with Ben. Lisa made it clear that if Mary failed to tell her father, then she (Lisa) would share the situation with Ben. That evening the family sat down and Mary shared with Ben and John her desire to be known as Mario.
Cultural variance applied to therapy Outline
Cultural variance applied to therapy Section one:
Please assume that the family in the vignette above is a Caucasian family. Based on this assumption, how would you respond as their therapist? Be sure to address the following questions.
a) Therapist’s Assumptions
i) What assumptions would you make about the family structure?
ii) What assumptions would you make about the family’s level of acceptance towards Mario?
iii) What assumptions would you make about the marital relationship between Lisa and Ben?
iv) What assumptions would you make about their spirituality or religious affiliation?
v) What assumptions would you make about their extended family?
b) How would you test the assumptions you have made?
c) As their therapist, how comfortable would you feel working with them (please share in detail your rationale as to what allows for you to feel comfortable or have any levels of discomfort)?
Cultural variance applied to therapy Section 2:
Please assume that the family in the vignette above is an African American family. Based on this assumption, how would you respond as their therapist? Be sure to address the following questions.
a) Therapist’s Assumptions
i) What assumptions would you make about the family structure?
ii) What assumptions would you make about the family’s level of acceptance towards Mario?
iii) What assumptions would you make about the marital relationship between Lisa and Ben?
iv) What assumptions would you make about their spirituality or religious affiliation?
v) What assumptions would you make about their extended family?
b) How would you test the assumptions you have made?
c) As their therapist, how comfortable would you feel working with them (please share in detail your rationale as to what allows for you to feel comfortable or have any levels of discomfort)?
Cultural variance applied to therapy Section 3:
Please assume that the family in the vignette above is a Hispanic family. Based on this assumption, how would you respond as their therapist? Be sure to address the following questions.
a) Therapist’s Assumptions
i) What assumptions would you make about the family structure?
ii) What assumptions would you make about the family’s level of acceptance towards Mario?
iii) What assumptions would you make about the marital relationship between Lisa and Ben?
iv) What assumptions would you make about their spirituality or religious affiliation?
v) What assumptions would you make about their extended family?
b) How would you test the assumptions you have made?
c) As their therapist, how comfortable would you feel working with them (please share in detail your rationale as to what allows for you to feel comfortable or have any levels of discomfort)?
Cultural variance applied to therapy Section 4:
Please assume that the family in the vignette above is an Asian family. Based on this assumption, how would you respond as their therapist? Be sure to address the following questions.
a) Therapist’s Assumptions
i) What assumptions would you make about the family structure?
ii) What assumptions would you make about the family’s level of acceptance towards Mario?
iii) What assumptions would you make about the marital relationship between Lisa and Ben?
iv) What assumptions would you make about their spirituality or religious affiliation?
v) What assumptions would you make about their extended family?
b) How would you test the assumptions you have made?
c) As their therapist, how comfortable would you feel working with them (please share in detail your rationale as to what allows for you to feel comfortable or have any levels of discomfort)?
Cultural variance applied to therapy Section 5:
a) In a succinct manner please explain the steps you have taken to create a culturally sensitive environment for the clients in question given each cultural scenario.
b) Discuss the different steps needed when working with members of a different ethnic culture.
c) Discuss the similar steps taken to help the clients through the presented circumstance despite the presence of ethnic variance.
Section 6:
a) Draw a succinct and summative conclusion.
Guidelines
1. This paper is due week 7 of this term on Sunday at 11:59 PM.2. This paper should be between 12 to 15 pages in length not including the title or reference page.3. This paper should be written in a narrative format and bullet point should not be used. 4. This paper should contain no less than 10 peer reviewed references other than the text (Wikipedia is not a peer reviewed reference, but it is a good starting point). 5. This paper should adhere to APA guidelines