Interdependent and Relational Tendencies among Asian Clients: Infusing Collectivistic Strategies into Counselling

Individuals of Asian descent (including East Asians and South Asians) constitute one of the fastest growing segments of Canadian society, with the 2001 Canadian census reporting an increase of 27 percent since the 1996 census (Statistics Canada, 2001, 1996). In 2000, Asians represented nearly 10 percent of the total Canadian population. Thus it is not surprising that the demand for culturally responsive mental health services for Asians has increased. However, for many Asians, counselling and professional psychological services remain foreign concepts and are sought only as a last resort in dealing with emotional and interpersonal problems. Underutilization of mental health services among ethnic minorities, including Asians, persists despite heightened efforts to ensure greater cultural sensitivity and competency in counselling and other psychologicical interventions with these groups (Akutsu, 1997; Sue & Sue, 2003). These concerns point to the enduring scepticism of many Asians regarding the efficacy of many psychological services. One particular dimension that has been identified as critical in understanding the service gap is the strong collectivism associated with Asians beliefs and the deeply entrenched individualistic assumptions related to the practice and the practitioners of mental health services in North America. The conflict between collectivism and individualism has frequently been noted in the multicultural counselling literature; however, discussion of the issue has included only limited, tangible suggestions for counselling practitioners. In a recent commentary, Williams (2003) highlighted the disconnectedness between our knowledge of collectivism-individualism worldviews and our understanding of how these worldviews are reflected in counselling