This elective course delves into the fast-growing field of cultural psychotherapy, with a special emphasis on the application of Western (Euro-American) theories to non-Western clients in general, and Arabs in particular. Students will develop critical skills to examine the underlying cultural assumptions of Western psychotherapy, including universalism, individuation/separation, and independence/autonomy among others. The course will also critically examine contemporary literature in cultural psychology, focusing on the concepts of cultural selves and indigenous psychology. Finally, students will explore contemporary theories of Arab self and its implication for clinical practice.
