Counseling Uzbek and Central Asian Clients

Working predominantly with Uzbek-, Russian-, and Tajik-speaking men from the hinterlands of Central Asia over more than a decade has allowed me to refine some ideas on the concept of motivational interviewing via a "culturally competent" lens. I wish to make clear that I take the notion of cultural competence in utmost seriousness. However, the same idea begins to reek of predominant cultural imperialism (of the "modern world") when bandied about by most Western-oriented practitioners who often refer to these same cast of men as backwards, aggressive, controlling, and a litany of other clinically-couched pejoratives. Let's get back to the topic at hand.   Group counseling can work wonders. Providing individual Central Asian clients with rather foreign ideas to entertain about relationships, gender roles, gender expectations, family systems, and other ideas of adequate behavioral adaptation will move the needle to a degree. At worst, it can result in a complete t...

What if what is missing from some of our most cherished theories of personality assessment and behavioral change is the idea of respect? A respect that is based on a deep and authentic sense of the appreciation of another person. Not one connected to exterior signifiers of worth or passing fads of the day, but one in which there is a real reaching out of welcome and a striving for understanding. Uzbek traditions - and by and large the (ex) Soviet Central Asian experience - are steeped in notions and sentiments of respect. If one takes a literal interpretation of many common Uzbek greeting phrases and turns of expression, it becomes abundantly clear how much good will is expressed in these sayings.  I believe starting from a place of authentic respect (how much work does this require on the part of the treating therapist first!) when "treating" Uzbek-speaking clients does more good than compiling a history of symptoms, complaints, and problems. Although, those latter issues wi...