Cultural Interview of an Asian Woman In the Context of Mental Health Counseling - Assignment Example

Mental Health Counseling Running Head: MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING Cultural Interview of an Asian Woman In the Context of Mental Health CounselingMental Health Counseling 2 Abstract The objective of this paper is to learn how to conduct a cultural interview and to explore the client’s worldview. The interview would provide a complete description of the client, an analysis of the results of the cultural interview defining a practical perennial problem mentioned by the client, and possible counseling recommendations. Mental Health Counseling 3 INTRODUCTION In a study exploring the intricate factors involving qualitative interviews, interesting facts and facets of a person’s persona from a different culture are revealed through a cultural interview. Culture has been defined as a process of interpreting one’s world and shared behaviors, beliefs, and ways of living. In interviewing, rich information is learning about how people think, behave, and solve problems. It is interesting to note that this information differ depending on the culture of the person. The cultural interview focuses on the norms, values, understandings, and taken-for-granted rules of behavior of a group or society. The objectives of this essay are twofold: (1) to learn how to conduct a cultural interview and (2) to explore the world as viewed by the respondent. For this paper, an Asian woman, particularly a Filipina from the central part of the Philippines, was interviewed. She was asked on her personal and family background, views on predominant cultural values and beliefs, religious practices, and what she perceives as her practical perennial problem which she has been trying to solve. DESCRIPTION OF THE CLIENT A. Personal Characteristics and Background The client prefers to be called Tina but her full name is Maria Christina Cordero. It is just my observation but the name alone has traces of Spanish heritage. She is 46 years old, married for 21 years to the same man, bore six children – all boys. Mental Health Counseling 4 She has a small physique, with fair (brown) complexion, round eyes, black fine hair, and a height of about 5 feet tall. She speaks fluent English and said that she took some units in Spanish. She narrated that she was born of a middle class family with one brother and one sister. She was able to complete her undergraduate studies major in Business Administration from the top university in the Philippines (the University of the Philippines). She also took her masteral degree in business from the same university and had more than 10 year’s managerial experience with a rural bank. She said that a woman in the Philippines takes a variety of roles: a daughter, sister, mother, employee, citizen, wife, and parishioner (although, according to her, not in that particular order). She said that she views her role as a mother her priority. Rearing six children, she revealed, is not an easy task. By this alone, she is a counselor, a mediator, a cook, a laundrywoman, a teacher, an advisor, a friend. Of all the roles, she said, motherhood is the most challenging but the most rewarding. B. Family Background Her narration continued that she descended from a predominantly Catholic generation with roots from Central Luzon. Both of her parents died of cancer, as well as her grandmother and an auntie. According to Tina, her husband was born in Cebu, from the Visayas Island. He was an only child. Both his parents are also dead due to diabetes and cardiovascular problems. He is now afflicted with both diseases. Mental Health Counseling 5 C. Cultural Values and Beliefs Tina revealed that Filipinos have the following predominant cultural traits: (1) God-fearing; (2) fun-loving; (3) family oriented with extended family clan. Being a Roman Catholic country, Filipinos have extreme faith in God and religiously attend Sunday masses. Their heritage is known to have interracial influences from Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Spain and from the United States of America. D. Religious Practices Tina said that due to their strong faith in God, whatever problems and tribulations they, as a people, encounter, they leave the outcome and fate to Divine Providence. It is this faith that gives them courage, strength, hope and the desire to move on. Also, Tina stressed that their love for their family comes next. She said that she and her family attend Sunday masses, pray the Holy Rosary, pray some novena, goes to Confession and receives Holy Communion regularly. E. Perceived Practical Perennial Problem Her life appears to be normal and happy having six children and obtaining a masteral degree. When asked about their sources of income, Tina said that this is currently their problem. With the financial crisis affecting the global market, she and her husband are currently unemployed. Their small business got bankrupt and they are now renting a house. This situation brought about a string of financial set backs which, according to Mental Health Counseling 6 her, caused her two eldest sons to stop schooling. To make things worse, the deteriorating health condition of her husband put an additional financial toil. The family is currently relying on meager monthly sales of a property sold and from freelance writing jobs. Tina also said that she is currently being supported financially by three (3) of her aunties who give her money every now and then. ANALYSIS OF THE CULTURAL INTERVIEW Tina possesses the following traits which help her through their financial difficulties: (1) a strong faith in God; (2) the love for her family and children; (3) her mature outlook in life due to her educational background and work experience; and (4) family support. Unlike Western culture, Tina revealed that children in the Philippines are not in any obligation to leave the parents’ domain when they become adults. Most children stay with their parents until such time that they get married and have children of their own. This is the reason why relatives feel that they have obligations to support family members in need although these members are already outside the nuclear family. This is due to their extended family clan orientation. Her mature outlook in life gives her the mental advantage in dealing with problems. She said she does not get rattled easily and stays cool despite life’s struggles. Her experience as a manager also gives her the capability to deal with matters requiring leadership and human resources skills. Although she is not currently employed, she uses these skills in home management, time scheduling, budgeting and planning activities. Mental Health Counseling 7 She said that the support that she gets from her family and extended family is a great help in augmenting the sources of income they currently get. With the number of children that she has to support, coupled with the medical expenses needed by her husband, it is sometimes a miracle that she is able to make ends meet. She lamented that she can surely use additional assistance in this area. She just does not know where else to go. Tina views the world with optimism and hope despite their financial difficulties. Her faith in God keeps her strong and focused. Her love for her family is the single force that makes her want to try harder and to earn more to enable her to support their needs. She said that whatever difficulties they are encountering at present, she believes that these would soon be over with God’s mercy and grace and in His most appropriate time. POSSIBLE COUNSELING RECOMMENDATIONS With the results and analyses of the interview, I believe that Asians rely mostly on the Divine Providence as a solution to their problems. They also seek physical, emotional, spiritual and even financial support from their family and relatives. Given these cultural beliefs, the following are the possible counseling recommendations: (1) Suggest structured decision-making process to look for alternative financial options; (2) Seek professional counseling and help to solve medical problems of the husband; (3) Study options for scholarships to continue the education of the two eldest children; and Mental Health Counseling 8 (4) Seek alternative counseling methods like life counseling, mental counseling for alternative courses of action to improve the overall condition of the client’s life. CONCLUSION Culture can be understood as a set of solutions devised by a group of people to meet specific problems posed by situations they face in common. (Qualitative Interview) Filipinos deal with problems with the assistance of Divine Providence and a strong family orientation. It is commendable that despite trying situations, they maintain a happy disposition and an optimistic view of life. By learning about the cultural beliefs and values of another race, one gains knowledge on sources of strength and determination. The weaknesses that are eminent provide morals for corrective measures which can be utilized in situations which might occur in the future. Of course, similarities are also found. The love of the family encompass cross cultural beliefs. The need to look for resources for survival are basic needs which have to be satisfied. Accordingly, a cultural report, besides being the client’s story, is credible because it consists of the words of members of the culture. It can be concluded here that people are basically honest and that they share similar views – views they proudly express as their own. Reference List Qualitative Interview Method. Retrieved on Febuary 9, 2009 from Read More