Contextual Family Therapy and Intergenerational Work With Asian Indian Families

Abstract

This article describes culturally sensitive clinical work with Asian Indian families, using contextual family therapy. The authors describe how Contextual Therapy concepts such as justice, fairness, credibility, obligation, focus on posterity, and constructive/destructive entitlement are closely aligned with Indian cultural values and concepts of Dharma, Karma, and Seva. The authors expand upon these concepts and give case examples of their application with Indian families. The article also presents how Contextual Therapy is culturally congruent in addressing broader contextual issues, such as lifecycle transitions, gender, power, patriarchy, cross-generational relationships, and discuss some of the culturally sensitive ways with which Contextual Therapy can be used with this population.