Culturally Attuned Behavior Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Asian Americans: Addressing Racial Microaggressions and Deconstructing the Model Minority Myth

• Published in: Cognitive and behavioral practice 2022-11, Vol.29 (4), p.723-737
• Main Author: Ching, Terence H.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anxiety; Asian Americans; behavior therapy; depression; microaggressions
• ISSN: 1077-7229; 1878-187X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2021.04.006

•Racism impacts anxiety and depression among Asian Americans.•More information is needed on how to address racism in therapy with Asian Americans.•Racial microaggressions can be integrated into exposures for anxiety.•The model minority stereotype can be addressed in behavioral activation for depression.•Cultural humility is essential to culturally attuned behavior therapy. Extant research has shown that racial discrimination and microaggressions can have negative effects on anxiety and depression among Asian Americans. However, not much has been published regarding how to process and integrate experiences of racism into culturally attuned behavior therapy specifically for Asian Americans. In this article, I describe the process of culturally attuned behavior therapy for two Asian American clients, with an emphasis on integrating racial microaggressions into exposures for social anxiety, and deconstructing the model minority stereotype through value-driven behavioral activation for depression. Cultural attunements common to both case examples are then summarized, alongside practical recommendations for clinicians. Limits to generalizability are also discussed. Finally, the article closes by addressing the importance of cultural humility in effective culturally attuned behavior therapy with Asian Americans.