Clinical engagement of Canadian First Nations couples

Abstract

Although intervention with Canadian First Nations (FN) clients has been discussed in the literature, the area of couple therapy remains unexplored. Moreover, the specific process of engaging couples in treatment by non‐FN therapists has not been examined. To address this critical aspect of couple treatment, this exploratory paper elaborates on significant factors that influence the engagement process and discusses (1) residual effects of the residential school era, (2) contemporary sociopolitical issues endured by FN peoples, and (3) sensitivity regarding cultural imperatives, beliefs and practices. Finally, to promote effective engagement with FN couples several suggestions and corresponding case vignettes are provided.

Counseling Canadian Indigenous Peoples: The Therapeutic Alliance and Outcome

“…A third central concept is noninterference. Specifically, noninterference refers to a belief or way of being that is aimed at cultivating strong interpersonal relationships by avoiding coercion (Brant, ; Morrissette, ). The importance of noninterference in Canadian Indigenous culture is captured in the recommendation of respectful engagement and collaboration in the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework (Assembly of First Nations & Health Canada, ).…”

Thematic review of family therapy journals in 2008

“…In a review of diversity and social justice issues as represented across articles published in major family therapy journals between 1995 and 2005, Kosutic and McDowell (2008) concluded that there has been an overall increase in articles focusing on diversity and social justice over time, although some dimensions of cultural identity, including class, age and nation of origin, have been underrepresented. In 2008 papers on diversity and family therapy covered a range of topics including diversity in family therapy training (Beitin et al, 2008), sameness and diversity in families across five continents over the past three decades (Kaslow, 2008), engaging African American families (Davey and Watson, 2008) and Hispanic drug-misusing adolescents in family therapy (Cannon and Levy, 2008), engaging Canadian First Nations couples in therapy (Morrissette, 2008), using genograms with Asian families (Lim and Nakamoto, 2008) and Mexican immigrants (Yznaga, 2008), narrative therapy with African families in which HIV infection has occurred (Nwoye, 2008), child protection interventions with Asian American immigrant families (Larsen et al, 2008), medical family therapy with the Latino population in the USA (Willerton et al, 2008), and transformative family therapy with a lesbian couple (Hernendez et al, 2008). In a very thoughtful paper, through case…”

Counselling Aboriginal peoples: A thematic study of counselling experiences.

“…Aboriginal peoples in mind, trustworthiness is probably more important for Aboriginals than it is for non-Aboriginals seeking psychological assistance, due to the history of contemporary oppression and cultural clashes associated with seeking help (Morrissette, 2008).…”

“…In the few articles that examine specific counselling methods with Aboriginal populations, the focus is on relationship building, communication styles, and the ability to leam (Glauser & Bozarth, 2001;McCormick, 1998;McCormick, 1997a;Morrissette, 2008).…”