Cognitive-behavioral therapy with Chinese American clients: Cautions and modifications

The purpose of this article is to examine the application of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in working with Chinese American clients with a focus on exploring the potential weaknesses and providing modifications for effective therapy with this population. The contents include (a) an overview of CBT, (b) Chinese American cultural values, (c) parallels between Chinese cultural norms and philosophy of CBT, and (d) cautions and modifications when applying CBT to Chinese American clients. Because of its high level of compatibility with Chinese values, beliefs, and cultural characteristics, CBT, with a few modifications, appears to be a viable model when working with Chinese American clients in a short-term therapy setting or in the beginning phase of therapy.