Monday, August 23, 2010

AFRICAN CULTURAL COMPETENCY THERAPY

African Cultural Competency Training was presented by Dr. Fenny Braide, sponsored by Delaware County health systems of Pennsylvania.

Family Based Therapy

A family is more than a group of individuals. A family is a special entity where people feel supported and able to pursue their dreams. Through family, we pass along values, teach and grow. Unfortunately, a family can also be a place of conflict. Conflicts and disagreements are normal part of the family life. They allow people to communicate their differences and express their feelings. Sometimes conflicts can over tough issues like: illness, injury, change of employment, changing schools, moving, and financial problems can spiral out of control.

At The Behavioral Health Center, we are committed to providing more than family based therapy. In the last few years mental health professionals have turned their attention to the relation between cultural awareness and the family system. We practice evidence based to stabilize family.

Family based therapy is one of a variety of possible therapeutic interventions that has proven to help African immigrants dealing with acculturation, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and adjustment problems. These contributions are part of the growing field of transcultural psychiatry. One of the contentious issues debated in the field of human services is the equitability of access of people from ethnically diverse social group like the Africans to different types of treatment especially psychotherapy.

Traditionally, most Africans see mental illness as taboo or curse. Therefore, counseling is not considered a healing methodology. A typical African client will first try alternative medicine before he or she consider a psychotropic medication. Some suggest that there is institutionalized racism, which reduces the chance of African immigrants being offered psychotherapy. Other possible explanations for the different kinds of treatment offered include the acceptability of the intervention to different groups; for instance some have suggested that there are particular difficulties in carrying out individual psychotherapy with African because the intimacy of the setting is perceived as very threatening, in part because of the African beliefs about causation of mental illness.

Family History

American know that family history is important to health. A recent survey found that ninety six percent of Americans believe that knowing family history is important to health and well-being. To help focus attention on the importance of family health history, U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, in cooperation with other agencies within the U.S. Department of health and human services (HHS) has launched a national public health campaign, called The U.S. Surgeon General Family Initiative, to encourage all American families to learn more about their family health history.

YOU TOO CAN BE PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN KNOW YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY

Posted August 23, 2010

Dr. Fenny Braide, is a psychotherapist and mental health consultant @ The Behavioral Health Center, Philadelphia

1 comment:

  1. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

    1. Africa is a single country-----True or False

    2. All Africans are Black---------True or False

    3. Africans are all poor----------True or False

    4. Most Africans live on trees----True or False

    5. Africans are not educated------True or False

    6. There are no mental illness in Africa--True or False

    7. All Africans have distinctive tribal marks-----True or False

    8. All Africans live in small villages and huts---True or False

    9. All Africans in America are here illegally----True or False

    10. Africans in America are the same as African Americans------True or False

    11. All Africans believe in discipline through corporal punishment of children--True or False

    12. All African women are subservient to their husbands-----True or False

    13. All Africans speak African---True or False

    Dr. Fenibo Braide
    Psychotherapist / Trainer, Cultural Competency
    August 23, 2010

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