Ways Marriage and Family Therapists Can Create Supportive Therapeutic Spaces for Asian American Clients

Abstract

The article focuses on ways Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) can create supportive therapeutic spaces for Asian American clients. Research and clinical practices in the field of MFT and counseling continue to center around White norms. To promote a clinical understanding of communities of color, pedagogical strategies need to encourage critical thinking and promote awareness of the systemic oppression of communities of color. The article will examine the current research and practices in supporting Asian American clients in therapy. Specifically, the article will explore Asian Critical Race Theory (Asian CRT), and Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy (SAFT) frameworks to understand how racialized experiences impact clients' wellbeing and create liberatory practices that elevate client voices within the therapeutic process. Through case examples, Asian Critical Race Theory and Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy will be applied to illustrate their practice with clients.