Counseling and Psychotherapy for South Asian Americans

This essential text explores what it means to be a South Asian American living in the US while seeking, navigating and receiving psychological, behavioral or counseling services. It delves into a range of issues including cultural identity, racism, colorism, immigration, gender, sexuality, parenting, and caring for older adults. Chapter authors provide research literature, clinical and cultural considerations for interviewing and treatment planning, case examples, questions for reflection, suggested readings, and resources. The book also includes insights on the future of South Asian American mental health, social justice, advocacy, and public policy. Integrating theory, research, and application, this book serves as a clinical guide for therapists, instructors, professors and supervisors in school/university counseling centers working with South Asian American clients, as well as for counseling students.

Ulash Thakore-Dunlap is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, faculty at the Wright Institute MA Counseling Psychology Program, and is a current doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program at San Francisco State University (anticipated to graduate, 2023). Dr. Devika Srivastava is a licensed Psychologist who has significant research, policy, programming, and clinical experience in mental health and is a former Psychiatry professor who is currently in private practice (Devika Srivastava Ph.D. LLC) in Texas and Florida. She focused on issues of Asian Americans, people of color, children of immigrants, and diasphoric communities. Dr. Nita Tewari is a consultant, educator and former Staff Psychologist and lecturer at the University of California, Irvine with publications in Asian American Psychology and South Asian American mental health.

Part I: History and Evolution of South Asian American Psychology Chapter 1: South Asian American Counseling and Psychology Chapter 2: Casteism, Colonization and Colorism Part II: Immigration, Acculturation, and Identity Development Chapter 3. Implications of Immigration, Racism, and the Current Sociopolitical Climate Chapter 4: South Asian American Identity Chapter 5: South Asian American Multiracial, Multi Heritage and Diaspora Identities Part III: Gender, Sexuality, and Cultural Influences in Psychological Adaptation Chapter 6: Impact of Gender Socialization and Cultural Norms of South Asian Americans Chapter 7: South Asian American LGBTQIA+ People and Communities: Developing Spaces of Empowerment and Liberation in Mental Health Settings Chapter 8: Religion Spirituality and Clinical Implications Chapter 9: South Asian American Marriages and Dating Part IV: Raising Families, Working with Elders and Providing Counseling Services Chapter 10: Considerations for South Asian American Parenting and Families Chapter 11: Counseling South Asian American Youth Chapter 12: Counseling Older South Asian Americans Chapter 13: Exploring the Nuanced South Asian American Therapeutic Relationship Part V: Future of South Asian American Mental Health Chapter 14: South Asian American political Movements and Mental Health: the Importance of Advocacy, Social Justice, and Public Policy