A cultural perspective on family theory and therapy

Although family therapists' conceptualizations of culture include ethnicity, nationality, religion, generation, gender, class, and sexual orientation, this article focused on ethnicity and families in the United States. A review of the literature reveals that effective family therapy is both sensitive to the family's cultural heritage and attuned to the unique interactional patterns, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors of each family with whom the therapist works. Culturally sensitive family therapy attempts to transcend cultural barriers, while respecting the cultural identity and integrity of the individual family members, the family unit as a whole, and the therapist. As multiculturalism has become increasingly emphasized in the United States, family therapists are challenged to facilitate families' efforts to reconnect with their cultural heritage to preserve a sense of belonging and identity, while simultaneously helping them adapt to their evolving cultural context.