Psychotherapy: Specific psychotherapies

Abstract

Specific psychotherapies bring specific challenges with them. Engagement with cognitive behaviour therapy and its success depends upon how the individual’s cognitions are affected by cultures and how amenable these are for therapy. Similarly, family therapy carries with it different roles of different members across cultures, and not everyone’s role will be the same. Minority therapists may face potential difficulties while looking after patients from majority cultures. General principles of psychotherapy across cultures will apply but they may carry different meanings for each individual. It is essential that therapists are flexible enough to ensure the best patient engagement, and additional modifications may be required. Each of these therapies can be reductive, reconstructive, or supportive, and a mixture of more than one approach can be utilized. Assessment must explore very carefully needs and indications for therapy. In many cultures these words have very different meanings with personal and social expectations.