Listening differently with Māori and Polynesian clients

Philip Culbertson

doi:10.9791/ajpanz.1999.09

Philip Culbertson

DOI: https://doi.org/10.9791/ajpanz.1999.09

Abstract

Changing demographics, both nationally and internationally, strongly suggest that the traditionally Caucasian client-base of psychotherapy is dwindling in size. More and more of us will be asked to work cross-culturally in the future, yet few of us are adequately trained for such work. This article addresses some of the cultural information that psychotherapists need to know about Māori and Polynesian clients, in order to work more effectively with them. Particular emphasis is placed on the rule of culture in defining identity and the sense of self, the way decisions are made, proper methods of joining therapeutically, and the role of metaphor. Therapists are recommended to take a stance of 'informed not-knowing' when working cross-culturally, and to address the insights of Critical White Theory in order to make themselves 'culturally safe'.

Author Biography

Philip Culbertson

As recorded in 1999.

Philip Culbertson is a US-born Anglican priest on the faculty of St John's Theological College in Meadowbank, and a lecturer in pastoral counselling in the Theology Department of Auckland University. There he teaches a masters level paper entitled "Spirituality and Counselling". He is also an occasional lecturer in the psychotherapy programme at AIT Akoranga, and on the Continuing Education faculty of the University of Waikato. He is the author of seven books, six of which are on counselling theory, and over 100 scholarly articles. He practises psychotherapy part-time in Ponsonby.