Video: Working with Arab Americans
Thanks so much to Susan Abdel-Haq for joining us and boiling down her message to three main concepts:
Give clients a space to share their unique stories and experiences. Listen for microaggressions, discrimination, internalized stereotypes. Ask questions like, “what was that like for you?”, or “what did you notice?”.
Be mindful of challenges Arab-Americans face, particularly when it comes to family expectations around life transitions.
Educate clients on what to expect in therapy. Let them know your style, the interventions you’ll use and why, expected outcomes, etc. Ease their anxiety and decrease stigma associated with seeking mental health services.
In lieu of charging for this training, Susan and I are directing donations to Palestinian American Women’s Association. If you choose to donate, fill out the form and Lloyd Collective will match your donation.
Are you interested in starting a liberation-focused private practice? Consider joining our next 8-week Create Opportunity cohort. I’d love to work with you.
Resources:
Find Susan on Instagram, or her website.
Providing Culturally-Relevant Psychotherapy to Arab American Women
Understanding and Addressing Arab-American Mental Health Disparities
Psychotherapy of Arab Patients in the West: Uniqueness, Empathy and “Otherness”
Counseling and Psychotherapy with Arabs and Muslims: A Culturally Sensitive Approach