Abstract
Increasing numbers of immigrant families with adolescent children are seeking therapy because of intergenerational conflicts specific to the adolescent separation-individuation phase of the life cycle and transitional problems related to immigration and cultural transition. Three types of adolescent immigrants are identified and discussed: “Immigrants (subtypes “Reluctants” and “Optimists”), “Immigrant-Americans,” and “Americans.” Therapists' issues which can negatively affect therapy with such adolescents and families are also discussed. Effective therapy with immigrant families requires that family therapists become more culturally sensitive, therapeutically flexible, and accepting of family values to which they may be diametrically opposed. Recommendations for therapy are offered.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, A., Klein, M., Worknch, F., & Miller, M. (1981). Psychotherapy and the foreign student. In P. Pedersen, J. Draguns, W. Lonner, & J. Trimble (eds.),Counseling across cultures (rev. ed.). Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii, pp. 227–243.
Baptiste, D. (1987). Family therapy with Spanish heritage immigrant families in cultural transition,Contemporary Family Therapy, 9(4): 229–251.
De Vos, G. (1969). Minority group identity. In J. Finney (Ed.),Culture Change, Mental Health and Poverty. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, pp. 81–96.
Hall, G. (1904). Adolescence. New York: Appleton.
Immigrants admitted by country or region of birth and major occupation group: Fiscal Year 1984. Table Imm.6,Statistical Yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Services. Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents.
Landau, J. (1982). Therapy with families in cultural transition. In M. McGoldrick, M. Pearce, & J. Giordano (Eds.)Ethnicity and family therapy, 552–572. New York: Guilford Press.
Landau-Stanton, J. (1985). Adolescents, Families, and Cultural Transition: A Treatment Model. In M. Mirkin & S. Koman (Eds.),Handbook of adolescents and family therapy (pp. 363–381). New York: Gardner Press.
Landau-Stanton, J., Griffiths, J., & Mason, J. (1982). The Extended Family in Transition: Clinical Implications. In F. Kaslow, (Ed.),The international book of family therapy (pp. 360–369). New York: Brunner/Muzel.
Landy, S., Schubert, J., Clelanad, J., Clark, C., & Montgomery, J. (1983). Teenage Pregnancy: Family syndrome?Adolescence 18(71), 679–694.
Mead, M. (1928).Coming of age in Samoa. New York: Morrow.
Mead, M. (1930).Growing up in New Guinea. New York: Morrow.
Mitchell, J. (1980). Some universal factors in adolescent psychopathology,International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 3(3&4), 271–284.
Pruitt, F. (1978). The adaptation of African students to American Society.International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2, 90–118.
Sluzki, C. (1979). Migration and Family Conflict.Family Process, 18(4), 379–370.
Sue, D. W. (1981). The Culturally Skilled Counselor. D. W. Sue (Ed.), Counseling the culturally different: Theory and practice. New York: Wiley.
Sue, S., & Zane, N. (1987). The role of culture and techniques in psychotherapy: A critique and reformulation.The American Psychologist, 42(1), 37–42.
Teyber, E. (1983). Structural Family Relations: Primary Dyadic Alliances and Adolescent Adjustment.Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 9(1), 89–99.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dr. Baptiste is himself an immigrant. The experiences and observations discussed here are culled from his work with immigrant families and children over the past 19 years in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Indiana, and New Mexico.
Portions of this article will appear in a chapter “Psychotherapy with adolescent immigrants and their families in cultural transition” in B. Settles and D. Hanks (Eds.),Families on the move: Emigration, immigration, migration and mobility. Sage Publications, 1990, and are used here with permission.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baptiste, D.A. The treatment of adolescents and their families in cultural transition: Issues and recommendations. Contemp Fam Ther 12, 3–22 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00891814
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00891814