| Currently the Chinese American population is the largest Asian American group in the San Francisco Bay Area and second largest in the United States. As with any ethnic group there is a need for mental health services that adequately accommodate them. The Chinese have unique differences that immerge from early philosophical teachings imbedded within their culture, which have had a profound influence on their mores and values. These have a significant role in the attitudes and behaviors of the Chinese and affect their presentation in psychotherapy. In the area of play therapy with children, the research is limited regarding the treatment of ethnic minorities, suggesting that this technique needs additional research. The existing literature is limited in scope and offers little practical suggestions on working with children of color. In order to be efficacious, treatment needs to be sensitive as well as understood in the context of history and culture. By combining historical knowledge and cultural awareness, culturally competent play therapy for the Chinese American client may be possible. Finally, suggestions for a culturally sensitive play therapy model, structuring an appropriate treatment environment including toys, materials, and games are made. |
