Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice [Hardcover]

Derald Wing Sue (Author), David Sue (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1990 | ISBN-10: 0471842699 | ISBN-13: 978-0471842699 | Edition: 2

Continuing the work started in the highly successful original edition, this revised and updated major work explores issues relevant to the culturally different in the United States and cuts across all ethnic/racial minorities. It is divided into three parts covering issues and concepts in cross-cultural counseling, counseling individual populations and critical incidents in cross-cultural counseling. Specifically, the conceptual framework is provided to aid in understanding the minority experience in the U.S., the role counseling has played with respect to larger societal forces, and the practice of cross-cultural counseling in mental health agencies, industries, public schools and correctional settings. Additionally, specific minority groups are given individual treatment to contrast similarities and differences. One note—major revisions to this edition (approximately 80%) are the result of current changes in the field and the authors' rethinking of earlier models of multicultural counseling.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Continuing the work started in the highly successful original edition, this revised and updated major work explores issues relevant to the culturally different in the United States and cuts across all ethnic/racial minorities. It is divided into three parts covering issues and concepts in cross-cultural counseling, counseling individual populations and critical incidents in cross-cultural counseling. Specifically, the conceptual framework is provided to aid in understanding the minority experience in the U.S., the role counseling has played with respect to larger societal forces, and the practice of cross-cultural counseling in mental health agencies, industries, public schools and correctional settings. Additionally, specific minority groups are given individual treatment to contrast similarities and differences. One note--major revisions to this edition (approximately 80%) are the result of current changes in the field and the authors' rethinking of earlier models of multicultural counseling.

From the Back Cover

"

Here is the long-awaited revision of this bestselling reference on multicultural counseling, the most widely used and critically acclaimed text published on the topic. The first book of its kind, Counseling the Culturally Different changed the thinking in multicultural counseling, setting the tone for a whole generation of psychological counselors across America. It has maintained its status as a classic in the field and is now the standard reference for nearly all courses in minority mental health and treatment. This Third Edition is completely revised and updated, continuing the legacy of scholarly excellence combined with a provocative, practice-oriented approach to the field.

Authors Derald Wing Sue and David Sue have reorganized the book to be consistent with new developments in research, theory, and practice. Major additions include a more inclusive definition of multiculturalism, the most recent statistics on the changing complexion of society and the implications for clinical practice, and a discussion of the culture-bound basis of the ACA and APA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The authors continue to use a large number of clinical case studies and real-life examples to illustrate the concepts of multicultural counseling and therapy.

This vital resource also features:New chapters on white racial identity development; non-Western and indigenous methods of healing; and counseling women, gays/lesbians, the physically challenged, and the elderlyExpanded coverage of multicultural family counseling/therapy, racial/cultural identity development, and becoming multiculturally competentIndividual chapters on counseling African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans

Combining a sound conceptual framework for multicultural counseling with proven therapeutic methods for specific groups, Counseling the Culturally Different remains the best source of real-world counseling preparation for students and the most enlightened, influential guide for professionals.

DERALD WING SUE, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alameda, and the California State University at Hayward. He received his PhD from the University of Oregon and has served as a training faculty member with the Columbia University Executive Training Programs and the Institute of the Asian American Psychological Association. He is currently President of the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues (Division 45 of the American Psychological Association).

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 2 edition (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471842699
• ISBN-13: 978-0471842699
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,312,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Therapy, finally, beginning to reach the rest of the world.., May 30, 2003

By 

Jedidiah Palosaari "Not My Real Name" (Fes, Morocco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

An amazing textbook that you can read with interest from cover to cover, Counseling the Culturally Different (and it's updated version, Counseling the Culturally Diverse) will provide a basis for understanding how to reach out and provide effective therapy to those outside the European-American milieu. I've often complained to my brother Kent, a therapist, that so much of modern therapy is focused on European-American culture, and I find it difficult to relate to or come to understanding in my own therapy, as I come from a kinship society. Then I came upon this class, Counseling in Cross-Cultural Situations, in order to prepare for future counseling possibilities in Morocco, and read this book.

Too often therapy, for all it's benefits, is focused on one specific culture, and especially on the American psyche. Sue & Sue look at how one deals with other cultures, with many great short case studies that help the imagination as one contemplates therapeutic possibilities. Some of what they look at are shame vs. guilt cultures- how do you work with someone from a shame culture to instill in them a healthy sense of shame? Such an approach would of course be detrimental to someone from a guilt culture, like the U.S.- but it's equally detrimental to *not* pursue shame when working with a shame culture. Or how do you deal with someone coming from a culture where the group is more important than the individual? Modern psychotherapy which focuses on making one more of an individual needs to be substantially remodeled for this group, for making someone from a kinship society an individual only harms them. Not only does this book help me to better understand my own therapy process; it has given me invaluable tools for future counseling possibilities when working with those in the 2/3rds world.

Sue & Sue look at different specific populations as well- African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native-Americans, the elderly, and the handicapped. They provide invaluable processi by which every group can come to learn to appreciate the wider society that they're in, and how they can learn to adapt to the wider culture while fully appreciating their own. The one flaw I'd find in this edition- Sue & Sue's take on European-American psychological progression is only looking at coming to a place of understanding other cultures; there is no part there for learning to appreciate one's own (European-American) heritage, as there is for the other ethnic groups.

I'd highly recommend Augsburger's Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures as well- though a very thick and detailed book, it adds much more meat to the backbone of Sue & Sue. And B.J. Prashantham's Indian Case Studies in Therapeutic Counseling gives very basic ideas for those who don't have much background in therapy. B.J. uses his own experiences as an Indian therapist, relating to those within his culture or other cultures in India, providing a very emic perspective on these questions.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Biased but still useful, September 24, 2005

By 

Jennifer K. Paweleck-Bellingrodt, Psy.D. (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

this book, as others have pointed out, is biased and tends to "beat up" on caucasians at times. it still has some useful clinical information and practice considerations, however. ponterotto et al's *handbook of multicultural counseling* is another, probably more comprehensive and practical, resource for working with diverse patients in my experience. nonetheless, sue and sue have written a good, well-organized text. the most useful parts are the guidelines for approaching the patient in the first interview (broken down into various cultures with individual considerations).

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't throw out the baby with the bath water., May 11, 2002

By 

Jan (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

The authors definately have their bias. But there's some important information here about cultural differences. They have definately done their homework and are considered the top authorities in their field. They've done their homework...but you need to read beyond the fact that they've got some strong bias. If you can keep from being offended by some of their insinuations, there's some very good information here. As one of my professors said about this book, you need to 'eat the meat and throw away the bones.' And it was excellent advice.