Overview

Drawing from liberation psychology and betrayal trauma theory, Decolonizing Asian American Psychology is an essential resource for psychotherapists working with Asian American clients. It clarifies the distinction between historical and generational trauma and presents additional key concepts for conceptualizing Asian American experiences, including institutional betrayal trauma, cultural betrayal trauma, and epistemic violence. In doing so, it offers a critical analysis of how the model minority myth perpetuates biases in research and practice regarding Asian Americans. Models for theory, practice, and social justice are richly illustrated with interviews, client testimonios, and case presentations using relational cultural therapy.

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9781538167205

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Reviews

Shin Shin Tang's work contributes to the current conversation by focusing on trauma in a population that is not often addressed in the trauma literature and on aspects of working therapeutically with Asian Americans that moves beyond exemplification (i.e., model minority trope) and exotification. I really appreciate this approach to addressing trauma and recovery, as it steps away from prescriptivism, and while focused on Asian diaspora, places Asian diaspora in a cultural context. I also appreciate the use of trauma and cross-cultural counseling theories as organizing framework. The addition of historical and contemporary stories, case examples, and clinical vignettes further anchors this work's place among key texts on Asian American psychology.--Donna C. Owens, Lesley University This book takes a concise, specific dive into Asian culture as it relates to generational and historic trauma, recent hate crimes and violence, and culture betrayal trauma. As more Asian Americans seek support, current and aspiring therapists need to be up to date on the recent research on this topic and understand how current and past traumas can coincide and impact each person in a variety of ways. Expanding awareness on these subjects will largely contribute to improving best practices for treatment and support of communities in the Asian diaspora. Highly recommended for higher level education students, anyone teaching multicultural diversity courses or trauma, and helping professionals.--Kendra Simpson, Rio Salado College A brilliant, practical guide to righting chronic wrongs. This wake-up call shows why every one of us--whether victim, beneficiary, enabler, or guilty bystander--must work now to stop the harm. Dr. Tang speaks truth--backed by research, ethics, and social justice--to power.--Kenneth S. Pope, PhD, ABPP, co-wuthor (with Melba Vasquez, Nayeli Chavez-Duenas, & Hector Adames), Ethics in Psychotherapy & Counseling: A Practical Guide, 6th Edition This is a crucial book that teaches and guides us to appreciate the fullness, complexity, and the nuance of Asian Americans' experiences from historical, intersectional, holistic, relational, and liberatory perspectives. Dr. Shin Shin Tang offers us a clear and critical analysis of the dominant psychotherapy paradigms, while offering a new praxis to decolonize and humanize the therapy space for Asian American clients.--Yunkyoung Garrison, PhD, licensed psychologist, former Asian American Psychologists Newsletter editor

Dr. Tang has written a courageous and insightful book that integrates a critical analysis of widely cited research findings, professional and personal experience, and nuanced self-reflection. I highly recommend this book to students in psychology, educators, clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about therapy with Asian Americans, especially for those interested in social justice issues. This is not a manual book on providing therapy to a specific population--far from it. This is a book that contains both wisdom and compassion--one I wish had been available to me as an Asian American graduate student in Clinical Psychology so many years ago! There is no other book out there that offers so much insight into how to provide culturally sensitive therapy to Asian American clients. This is a heartfelt, well-researched, and practical book for therapists and anyone who provides mental healthcare to Asian American clients.--Jessica Murakami, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Oregon State Hospital Dr. Tang's book is one of the first of its kind to center the voices of Asian diaspora in the context of trauma. She offers rich clinical vignettes and theoretical frameworks that help clinicians new and old develop skills to better serve their Asian American clients. I only wish a book like this existed when I was in training.--Jenny Wang, PhD, licensed psychologist Seamlessly contemporary and historical, Asian American Psychology and Psychotherapy provides a socio-cultural analysis of intergenerational trauma, racism, and the impact of abuse and ACEs on Asian Americans. With guidance for practitioners and educators, the book includes paths to practical and urgently needed actions alongside relevant social scientific analysis. To understand the Asian diaspora and the experience of Asian Americans and Asian Canadians, read this book.--Sadie R. Pendaz-Foster, PhD, Inver Hills Community College In Asian American Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dr. Shin Shin Tang provides a critical, compassionate, and unflinching view of Asian Americans as both diverse and complexly human. Alongside identifying various forms of betrayal, violence, and oppression, Dr. Tang shares tangible, trauma-informed, and culturally congruent information that clinicians, educators, students, researchers, and others can use to co-create liberation--both within and in solidarity with the Asian American community.--Jennifer M. Gómez, assistant professor, Boston University; Chair, Research Advisory Committee, Center for Institutional Courage; and author of The Cultural Betrayal of Black Women & Girls: A Black Feminist Approach to Healing from Sexual Abuse Shin Shin Tang highlights the struggles encountered by Asians and Asian Americans seeking therapy in the United States, underscoring the need to decolonize Western psychology, particularly in light of the burgeoning contemporary awareness of the intersectionality of racism and intergenerational trauma that afflicts these groups. It is refreshing, and long overdue, to see emphasis placed on examining the historical and cultural contexts in trauma therapy and recovery. These contextual understandings are imperative in treating Asians and Asian Americans, especially given America's complicated imperial, colonial, and military-industrial relationships with Asian countries over the past two hundred years; these international relationships find their domestic mirror in America's long history of Orientalism and racialized Othering of Asian American communities.--Jeannine Chandler, New York University Informative, insightful, critical, and deeply personal. Shin Shin Tang masterfully integrates research and individual experiences to provide a broader perspective for those trying to navigate Asian-American psychology and guidance for providers seeking to further integrate cultural understanding in their practices.--Jedidiah Chun, LMFT, co-founder, Asian Mental Health Collective This book is a courageous gift to the profession of psychology. It is important not just for clinicians, but for everyone, as it calls attention to deeply established and harmful methods of helping and carves a practical path toward more inclusive and compassionate practices. In each chapter, Dr. Tang brings a collective lens to trauma and psychotherapy, highlighting voices and viewpoints that have been obscured by the dominant cultural narrative. As she examines the psychology of Asian trauma, she beautifully weaves her personal experience as a Chinese American woman with solid scholarship and clinical insight. It is exquisitely written and comes directly from the heart, bringing us closer to a psychology of liberation.--Lori Allen, licensed psychologist and director, Oregon Mind Body Institute This book takes a concise, specific dive into Asian culture as it relates to generational and historic trauma, recent hate crimes and violence, and culture betrayal trauma. As more Asian Americans seek support, current and aspiring therapists need to be up to date on the recent research on this topic and understand how current and past traumas can coincide and impact each person in a variety of ways. Expanding awareness on these subjects will largely contribute to improving best practices for treatment and support of communities in the Asian diaspora. Highly recommended for higher education students, anyone teaching multicultural diversity courses or trauma, and helping professionals.--Kendra Simpson, Rio Salado College A brilliant, practical guide to righting chronic wrongs. This wake-up call shows why every one of us--whether victim, beneficiary, enabler, or guilty bystander--must work now to stop the harm. Dr. Tang speaks truth--backed by research, ethics, and social justice--to power.--Kenneth S. Pope, PhD, ABPP, co-author (with Melba Vasquez, Nayeli Chavez-Dueñas, & Hector Adames), Ethics in Psychotherapy & Counseling: A Practical Guide, 6th Edition Shin Shin Tang's work contributes to the current conversation by focusing on trauma in a population that is not often addressed in the trauma literature and on aspects of working therapeutically with Asian Americans that moves beyond exemplification (i.e., model minority trope) and exotification. I really appreciate this approach to addressing trauma and recovery, as it steps away from prescriptivism, and while focused on Asian diaspora, places Asian diaspora in a cultural context. I also appreciate the use of trauma and cross-cultural counseling theories as organizing framework. The addition of historical and contemporary stories, case examples, and clinical vignettes further anchors this work's place among key texts on Asian American psychology.--Donna C. Owens, Lesley University This is a crucial book that teaches and guides us to appreciate the fullness, complexity, and the nuance of Asian Americans' experiences from historical, intersectional, holistic, relational, and liberatory perspectives. Dr. Shin Shin Tang offers us a clear and critical analysis of the dominant psychotherapy paradigms, while offering a new praxis to decolonize and humanize the therapy space for Asian American clients.--Yunkyoung Garrison, PhD, licensed psychologist, former Asian American Psychologists Newsletter editor

Author Information

Shin Shin Tang, PhD has provided psychotherapy to a wide range of Asian and Asian American communities for over two decades, including to war refugees, adoptees, veterans, international students, immigrants, and subsequent generations. She has also conducted national and international research focusing on the intersection of trauma, gender, and culture. Dr. Tang maintains a private practice in Eugene, Oregon, the traditional homeland of the Kalapuya people. Her website shinshintang.com hosts resources for therapy with Asians and Asian Americans.

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