Abstract
M.A.
There is a tendency in South Africa to rely on first world models of family therapy.
These models when used in that context are often found to be effective. It is also very
significant to note that when applied or used with South African families or rather clients
of different cultural groups, the therapist must be aware of their cultural context too.
These therapeutic interventions are often criticized for use with third world clients in that
they operate primarily within an individualistic paradigm and adopt a eurocentric theory
on human reality and also focuses on adapting people to the environment (Hickson,
1990:171). This mode of functioning is often foreign to many black South African
families. This also emphasizes the fact that therapy doesn't happen in a vacuum. This
means that the social and cultural context of the client is very important and therapists
need to recognize this and adapt their therapeutic interventions according to their clients
cultural norms. The purpose of the study is to explore the issue of cross-cultural family therapy in South
Africa. The study also examines the importance of culture in therapy. This was a purely
literature review study. Data in this study is the literature information that was collected
from family therapy books, journals and dissertations.
The research findings of this study reveals that cultural consideration is essential when
working with clients. Thus cultural and racial factors are regarded as being very
significant in the therapeutic process. They influence the therapeutic intervention that
family therapists offer. This is also indicative of the fact that cross-cultural therapy is
possible and that therapists should creatively utilize their clients cultural values. Thus
Gobodo (1990:93) states that the solution is not to homogenize all cultures into an
illusionary melting pot but rather to study and adapt therapeutic interventions crossculturally.