Multicultural Research and Practice: Theoretical Issues and Maximizing Cultural Exchange

This article reviews literature on cross-cultural approaches to assessment, research, and clinical practice, culminating in recommendations for using a “cultural exchange” approach when working with multicultural clients. It examines challenges in studying culture and mental illness, including methodological issues and problems in defining constructs in multicultural research. Measurement of disorders crossculturally, including efforts to validate depression measures for use with multicultural populations, is also discussed. Perspectives on cultural competence are presented, including the American Psychological Association Multicultural Guidelines, and a “cultural exchange” approach to therapy is presented as a tool for maximizing the benefit of therapy with multicultural clients. Three clinical vignettes are presented to illustrate the use of this approach and how identifying the commission of Type I and Type II multicultural errors can enhance clinical work.