Presenters: Keona Chandler, Family Home and Social Sciences, Psychology
Authors: Chandler,K. Semu,E. Mataalii,C. Tsoi, C., Hee, C., Cutrer-Parraga, B., Conklin, H., & Allen, G. E. K.
Faculty Advisor: Kawika Allen, David O Mckay School of Education, Psychology
Institution: Brigham Young University
This presentation will describe Polynesian Americans’ perceptions of psychotherapy and will include a discussion of culturally relevant therapy adaptations and interventions for practicing psychotherapists who may work with this population. In our study, an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was conducted to collect and analyze interview data from individuals of Polynesian descent to explore and identify their preferences and views towards psychotherapy. The results of the analysis showed three main cultural informed themes shared by study participants that informed this sample’s expectations and perceptions of psychotherapy: ʻOhana (family), Lōkahi (harmony) and Aloha (warmth, compassion, love). These values provide unique insights to therapy adaptations that should be emphasized when working with Polynesian American clients, such as using a family centered approach to therapy that takes into account the collective needs of a client’s entire family, participating in therapist self-disclosure and the sharing of personal backgrounds, looking at clients challenges through a holistic lens, and demonstrating genuine warmth and light heartedness in the client therapist relationship.