Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, New Mexico State University.
Psychotherapy (Chic). 2019 Jun;56(2):241-253. doi: 10.1037/pst0000224. Epub 2019 Apr 18.
There has been a growing recognition of the role that various aspects of culture play in the theory and practice of psychotherapy. One aspect of culture that has received little attention, however, is language. Specifically, we lack comprehensive understanding of the value bilingual clients find in expressing thoughts, feelings, and experiences in two languages. Research that enhances understanding of the role that bilingualism plays in psychotherapy may thus help improve the quality of services that bilingual clients receive. To this end, we interviewed eight bilingual Latinx people (seven of Mexican descent and one Puerto Rican) between the ages of 20 and 37 about their experience using Spanish and English in psychotherapy. Using descriptive phenomenological analysis, we identified and interpreted 250 meaning units that were grouped into five overarching themes: (a) Enhancing Expression and Understanding, (b) An Affirming Experience, (c) Facilitating Therapeutic Processes, (d) Utility of a Therapist Bilingual Orientation, and (e) Strengthening the Therapeutic Relationship. Findings speak to the value for bilingual Latinx clients of being able to use both of their languages in psychotherapy. Implications for multicultural psychotherapy research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
人们越来越认识到文化的各个方面在心理治疗理论和实践中的作用。然而，文化的一个方面却很少受到关注，那就是语言。具体来说，我们还不太了解双语客户在使用两种语言表达思想、感受和经历时所看重的价值。因此，增进对双语在心理治疗中所起作用的理解的研究，可能有助于提高双语客户所接受的服务质量。为此，我们采访了 8 位 20 至 37 岁的双语拉丁裔人士（7 位墨西哥裔和 1 位波多黎各裔），了解他们在心理治疗中使用西班牙语和英语的体验。通过描述现象学分析，我们确定并解释了 250 个意义单位，这些意义单位分为五个主题：（a）增强表达和理解；（b）积极的体验；（c）促进治疗过程；（d）治疗师双语取向的实用性；（e）加强治疗关系。研究结果表明，双语拉丁裔客户在心理治疗中使用两种语言具有重要价值。本文还讨论了对多元文化心理治疗研究和实践的启示。（美国心理协会，2019 年）
