Mexican American Psychology

Providing in-depth coverage of the Mexican American population from social, cultural, and psychological (clinical) perspectives, this book promotes the understanding of cultural practices and sociological characteristics of this important ethnic group.
There are now more than 32 million Mexican Americans living in the United States. As a result, the odds that a clinician will work with a member of this population-one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the United States-is extremely high. Understanding the culture, society, psyche, acculturation, assimilation, and linguistics specific to Mexican Americans, as well as their crises and appropriate interventions, is imperative to provide counseling/therapy services and culturally sensitive assessments.
In this book, author Mario Tovar explains how Mexican American history and society affects the needs of this group and how services to Mexican Americans require adjustments as a result. Tovar documents significant differences among Mexican Americans depending on whether they are documented or undocumented immigrants, and on their place of origin-rural versus urban areas of Mexico, and northern versus southern Mexico, for example. Readers will understand how the region of the United States in which Mexican Americans settle can influence the development of certain traits for them and learn about mental and physical health care practices common to Mexican Americans, including folk medicine and "healers" who often include grandmothers and elder neighbors.

Mario A. Tovar, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in Texas and director of psychology services at the Rio Grande State Center.

Series Foreword
Preface
Part I: Introduction to Sociological and Anthropological Topics
Chapter 1. Overview of Mexican American Psychology
Chapter 2. Mexican American History
Chapter 3. Contemporary Mexican American Society
Chapter 4. Undocumented Immigration and Mexican Americans
Chapter 5. Assimilation and Acculturation of Mexican Americans
Chapter 6. Language, Communication, and Mexican Americans
Part II: Introduction to Clinical Topics
Chapter 7. Mexican Americans and Mental Health
Chapter 8. The Clinical Interview
Chapter 9. Counseling Mexican Americans
Chapter 10. Psychological Assessments and Evaluations for Mexican Americans
Chapter 11. Crisis Interventions
Chapter 12. Future Considerations
References
Index