Is the Stranger an Alien? Is the Stranger an Alien? Meeting the Other, the Meeting the Other, the

Different CultureDifferent Culture

Joanna Kato M. Sc. Psychologist, speech therapist, Gestalt therapist, supervisor, trainerJoanna Kato M. Sc. Psychologist, speech therapist, Gestalt therapist, supervisor, trainer

Member of EAGT and HAGTMember of EAGT and HAGT

Definitions of Culture

• Cultura (latin) – used first by Cicero “cultura animi” – cultivation of the soul

• In Europe again from 17th century referring to betterment of individuals mainly through education

• From 19th century – the common referent points of whole peoples, connected with national aspiration and ideas

Culture in Anthropology the 20th century

• The range of human phenomena that cannot be attributed to genetic inheritance

• The human capacity to represent experiences with symbols

• The distinct way that people living differently classified and represented their experiences, and acted creatively

Culture in Gestalt Therapy Culture in Gestalt Therapy • Philip LichtenbergPhilip Lichtenberg in in ““CultureCulture”” in in ““The Bridge DialoguThe Bridge Dialogues es Accross Accross

CultureCulture” (2005)” (2005)

• - studying a culture means - studying a culture means exploring elements of experienceexploring elements of experience such as the nature of awareness, concepts of contact and such as the nature of awareness, concepts of contact and withdrawalwithdrawal

• Observe the adaptation of contact functionsObserve the adaptation of contact functions (studying (studying touching, seeing, hearing, moving, tasting- how the individual are touching, seeing, hearing, moving, tasting- how the individual are using it – are components of describing a culture)using it – are components of describing a culture)

• Culture embodies patterns of contact and withdrawalCulture embodies patterns of contact and withdrawal of of individuals, of groups and larger systems. Is made of events and individuals, of groups and larger systems. Is made of events and episodes with unique beginnings and endingsepisodes with unique beginnings and endings

• Studying the loss of ego functionStudying the loss of ego function – (how the person includes – (how the person includes and excludes from the awareness of others aspects of being and and excludes from the awareness of others aspects of being and the surrounding field).the surrounding field).

Culture in Gestalt Therapy

• “A way of creating shared ways of functioning – to communicate effectively, shared events, practices, roles, myths” (Eleutheriadu, 1994)

• Culture is dynamic, ever changing and exists inside people (psychologically) as well as outside (in the existing social institutions. Culture extends beyond ethnicity and race to disability, age, religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, class and status. (Evans, 2013)

Culture in Gestalt Therapy

• Field theory – culture is the difference between Field theory – culture is the difference between interpreted wholesinterpreted wholes

• is how fixed patterns of adjustment are being usedis how fixed patterns of adjustment are being used• Culture as a phenomena emerges only when the other Culture as a phenomena emerges only when the other

culture emerges (culture emerges (M. Buber “one exist only when there is M. Buber “one exist only when there is another”)another”)

• The culture like the self is The culture like the self is in between (in between (Talia LevinTalia Levin Bar-Bar-YosephYoseph,, in “ in “The Bridge DialoguThe Bridge Dialogues es Accross CultureAccross Culture “( “( 2005)2005)

Gestalt Multicultural Model of Gestalt Multicultural Model of Culture – Gordon WheelerCulture – Gordon Wheeler

1.1. All contact is cultural contactAll contact is cultural contact2.2. The encounter between therapist and client is itself an The encounter between therapist and client is itself an

intercultural exchangeintercultural exchange3.3. All culture is multicultureAll culture is multiculture4.4. Boundary depends on contextBoundary depends on context5.5. Dialogue as the fundamental intervention of Gestalt approach Dialogue as the fundamental intervention of Gestalt approach

(various points of perception are being expressed)(various points of perception are being expressed)6.6. The intentional focus is on supportThe intentional focus is on support7.7. Experimentalism as an organizing attitude (co constructing Experimentalism as an organizing attitude (co constructing

experience)experience)8.8. Multiculturalism is a value – intercultural contact is a condition Multiculturalism is a value – intercultural contact is a condition

of personal growthof personal growth

In intercultural meetings we may In intercultural meetings we may experience:experience:

• No closureNo closure• No figure formation – not enough support for No figure formation – not enough support for

groundground• Free space for introjects (from my own culture)Free space for introjects (from my own culture)• No immunity from biases No immunity from biases

Cultural competence

• A developmental process of acquiring awareness of ones own biases, prejudices, discriminations and cultural heritage

• Knowledge of different cultural groups• Skills related to working with cultural diverse

client (Sue and Sue 1982)

What is

Your response to the words:

alien, stranger, refugee, foreigner

What meanings does it carry for you?

Foreigner in other languages..

• Polish – obcy, obcokrajowiec, emigrant• Greek - ξένος, πρόσφυγας, μετανάστης, αλλοδαπός• French – etranger • Italian - straniero• German – Auslandish, Fremd• Albanian – I huaj /external, strange, I papajtueshem/inconsistent• Spanish –extranjero, forastero• Swahili – mgeni• Luo – wendo• Arabi - أجنبي• Urdu -اجنبی • Farsi - بیگانه • Norwegian – alien, fremmed

• What are the feelings connected with the meanings you have found?

• How do you feel about sharing them?

• What have you discovered about yourself?

Assessing my Culture

• What culture do you consider yourself coming from?

• How is your culture?• Use assessment form ADDRESSING

(Margery Ginsberg in Pamela Hays –” Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice”)

ADDRESSING

• A – age and generational influences • (How would you describe yourself? Would you tell me about your cultural

heritage or background?

• . When I was born, what were the social expectations for a person• of my identity?• . When I was a teenager, what were the norms, values, and gender roles supported within

my family, by my peers, in my culture? Was it a dominant culture?• . How was my view of the world shaped by the social movements• of my teenage years?• . When I was a young adult, what educational and occupational• opportunities were available to me? And now?• . What generational roles make up my core identity (e.g., auntie,• father, adult child, grandparent)?

• D - Developmental disability• (Do you have experience with disability, or have you

been a caregiver for someone who does?)• D - Disability acquired later in life• (Are there any disabilities that you acquired later in life?

Or ways in which your disability is part of what happens now?)

• R - Religion and spiritual orientation • (What was your religious upbringing? Do you have a

religious or spiritual practice now?)

• E - Ethnic and racial identity• (how would you describe your race? How do you experience it?)• • S - Socioeconomic status• (What was your family's economic situation growing up? What is

your economic situation now?)• S - Sexual orientation • (What did it mean to grow up as a [girl or boy] in your culture

and family?)• (Do you currently have a partner? Could you tell me about the

significant intimate relationships you have had?)

• I - Indigenous heritage (belonging to the country you live)• (how do you feel about living in the country your are living now?

What are the traditions you keep? What do they mean to you?)• N - National origin• (what is your nationality of origin? How does this describe you?)• G – Gender• ( do you have any gender issues? ) what does it mean to be a

men/woman/gay/lesbian/transgender/ - from the place you are now in your life?

Explore Cultural Competence

• Areas where you are privileged *• Values –”what do you value”? !!!• Your social cycle – consider people with whom

you choose to spend most of your time

ReferencesReferences

• Carlson J., Crethar H. C.,Pederson P.B., (2002Carlson J., Crethar H. C.,Pederson P.B., (2002) Inclusive Cultural Empathy-) Inclusive Cultural Empathy- Making Making Relationship Central in Counseling and Psychotherapy, American Psychological Relationship Central in Counseling and Psychotherapy, American Psychological Association, Washington DCAssociation, Washington DC

• Eleyueriadou, Z. (1994) Transcultural Counseling. London: central book publishingEleyueriadou, Z. (1994) Transcultural Counseling. London: central book publishing• Evans K, (2013) Challenging opressive Practice in Psychotherapy Education in Yes we Evans K, (2013) Challenging opressive Practice in Psychotherapy Education in Yes we

care, social, political and cultural relationship as therapy ground, a Gestalt perspective. care, social, political and cultural relationship as therapy ground, a Gestalt perspective. Red. Klaren G., Levi N. VidakovicI.Red. Klaren G., Levi N. VidakovicI.

• Hays P. (2002).Hays P. (2002).Addressing Cultural Complexities in PracticeAddressing Cultural Complexities in Practice , American Psychological , American Psychological Association, Washington DCAssociation, Washington DC

• Jacobs L. (2000) Jacobs L. (2000) For Whites OnlyFor Whites Only, British Gestalt Journal, 9 (1):3-14, British Gestalt Journal, 9 (1):3-14• Lech M.M., Aten J. D., editors (2010Lech M.M., Aten J. D., editors (2010) Culture and the Therapeutic Process) Culture and the Therapeutic Process – a Guide for – a Guide for

Mental Health Professionals, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, NY Mental Health Professionals, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, NY • Levine T. Y. B. (2005) Levine T. Y. B. (2005) The Bridge DialoguThe Bridge Dialogues es Accross CultureAccross Culture,, Gestalt Institute Press Gestalt Institute Press• Lichtenberg P. Lichtenberg P. CultureCulture in in The Bridge DialoguThe Bridge Dialogues es Accross CultureAccross Culture• Muran J. C., (2006) Muran J. C., (2006) Dialogues on Difference Studies of Diversity in theDialogues on Difference Studies of Diversity in the TherapeuticTherapeutic RelationshiRelationship, p,

American Psychological Association, Washington DCAmerican Psychological Association, Washington DC• Wheeler G. ,2005 Wheeler G. ,2005 Culture, Self and FieldCulture, Self and Field in in The Bridge DialoguThe Bridge Dialogues es Accross CultureAccross Culture

Thank YouThank You