We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Use of Traditional Chinese Culture and Values in Social Work Health Care Related Interventions in Hong Kong.
- Authors
Chan, Cecilia Lai-Wan; Palley, Howard A.
- Abstract
This column provides information about traditional Chinese values and ways of thinking and how much value may affect or hinder a western approach to social work practice. Because many Chinese people put considerable emphasis on academic achievement, social workers can design courses or programs that are educational in nature. Instructions using a cognitive-behavioral training approach have been found to generate good responses. To prevent clients from feeling a loss of face, social workers may use a consultation approach, which involves older family members and parents as consultants instead of clients. Chinese people, who are pragmatic, willingly participate in collective problem solving if they are not seen as the client but as helpers. Death rituals can be used also to reduce the pain of bereavement and hasten recovery. To help clients and significant others let go of their past bitterness and resentment, it is of utmost importance to help them forgive others with respect to family and other small group tensions. Forgiveness stems in part from the Taoist and Confucian traditional emphasis on moderation and avoidance of extremes and may also have a Judeo-Christian overlay. Because there is a strong resistance to talking about their anger, behavioral instructions for breathing exercises were found to be far more effective.
- Subjects
CHINESE people; MANNERS &; customs; SOCIAL services; COGNITIVE therapy; FORGIVENESS in religion; BREATHING exercises
- Publication
Health & Social Work, 2005, Vol 30, Issue 1, p76
- ISSN
0360-7283
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/hsw/30.1.76