Counseling Multiple-Heritage Couples

Multiple-heritage couples are one of the fastest growing client populations in the United States. These partnerships are defined by intersecting ethnic, racial, linguistic, and religious differences. They are challenged by societal perceptions, stereotypes, and other pressures associated with being in a multiple-heritage pairing. This article discusses strengths in the multiple-heritage union brought about by the understanding of diverse viewpoints. Finally, the article identifies specific strategies, such as couples relationship education, to resolve and confront inherent differences. Las parejas multiculturales son uno de los grupos demograficos de clientes de mayor crecimiento en los Estados Unidos. Este tipo de parejas se define por la interseccion de diferencias etnicas, raciales, linguisticas y religiosas. Sus miembros enfrentan desafios a causa de las percepciones sociales, los esterotipos y otras presiones asociadas con tener una pareja multicultural. Este articulo discute los puntos fuertes en una union multicultural, facilitados por la comprension de puntos de vista diversos. Finalmente, el articulo identifica estrategias especificas, como por ejemplo la educacion en relaciones de pareja, para resolver y afrontar las diferencias intrinsecas

Helping patients make decisions about complementary and alternative treatments: The social work role

Increasingly people are using complementary and alternative modalities (CAM) to cope with and manage cancer. Many patients, however, do not know how to access credible information and make informed treatment decisions. Social workers are in a unique position in the healthcare team to facilitate patients\u27 decision-making about CAM. Skills and techniques to educate patients and to help them communicate with their healthcare practitioners about CAM are described. The authors introduce questions patients should ask to make better-informed treatment decisions, and describe social work interventions to help patients explore their choices in the context of personal history, meaning, beliefs and lifestyle. Lastly, the position of the social worker vis à vis the institution and its stance on CAM is explored. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved