Contributions by Amaro J. Laria; Andres J. Pumariega; Antonio Bullón; April Fallon; Carol Quintana; Consuelo Cagande; Eugenio Rothe; Félix Torres; Maria Elena Aguilo-Seara; Pedro Bauza; Ricardo Ainsle; Salman Akhtar and Solange Margery Bertoglia No individual grows outside the ambience of his or her culture and no clinical dyad operates in a cultural vacuum. It is therefore of utmost importance that developmentally-oriented clinicians and therapists be aware of the nuances of the particular culture or subculture that their patients bring with them. After all, when patients and therapists meet, they not only bring their pathos, but also bring their ethos to bear on their dialogue. This book focuses upon the culture of the Hispanic population in the United States and seeks to replace stereotypes with portrayals based upon factual information. The scope of the material covered is vast, and includes the topics of ethnic identity, gender roles, religion and spirituality, family resilience, and the joys and sufferings of leading a bicultural life. Opening with a thorough survey of Latin-American immigration to the United States and closing with an illustration-rich discourse on being a Hispanic-American psychotherapist in this country, the book deals with both normative and psychopathological realms. Help-seeking patterns, vulnerability of some Hispanic youth to drugs and gang-related affiliations, and the fine technical adjustments in conducting psychotherapy with individuals of this growing subpopulation are elucidated with great compassion and empathy. All in all, THE AMERICAN LATINO is a shining document of the coexistence of universal similarity and cultural uniqueness of the human psyche. Reading it will enhance knowledge, enrich attunement, and sharpen therapeutic skills for dealing with Latin American clients. Contents: Part I: Prologue 1 A Brief History of Latino Immigration to the United States Kelly Lopez Part II: Cultural Compass 2 Child Rearing by Latino Immigrants April Fallon and Carol Quintana 3 Latino Ethnic Identity Antonio Bullón and César A. Alfonso 4 Latino Gender Roles April Fallon and Pedro Bauza 5 The Role of Religion and Spirituality among Latinos Amaro J. Laria 6 Passion, Morality, and Resilience in Movies about Latino Immigrants Salman Akhtar and Maria Elena Aguilo-Seara Part III: Clinical Challenge 7 Help Seeking Behavior and Access to Mental Health Care Félix E. Torres 8 Mental Health and Psychosocial Risks in Latino Youth Andres J. Pumariega, Consuelo Cagande, and Eugenio Rothe 9 Individual and Sociocultural Dynamics in the Treatment of Latino Patients Ricardo Ainslie Part IV: Epilogue 10 On Being a Latino Psychotherapist in the United States Solange Margery Bertoglia About the Editors: Salman Akhtar, MD, is professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College and training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Solange Margery Bertoglia, MD, is on the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University, and has a clinical and forensic practice.
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