Counseling and Psychotherapy for South Asian Americans

Ulash Thakore-Dunlap is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, faculty at the Wright Institute MA Counseling Psychology Program, and is a current doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program at San Francisco State University (anticipated to graduate, 2023).Dr. Devika Srivastava is a licensed Psychologist who has significant research, policy, programming, and clinical experience in mental health and is a former Psychiatry professor who is currently in private practice (Devika Srivastava Ph.D. LLC) in Texas and Florida. She focused on issues of Asian Americans, people of color, children of immigrants, and diasphoric communities.Dr. Nita Tewari is a consultant, educator and former Staff Psychologist and lecturer at the University of California, Irvine with publications in Asian American Psychology and South Asian American mental health.

"For decades, the experiences of South Asian Americans had been minimized or erased in Asian American Studies, Counseling, and Psychology. With chapters covering topics like colonialism, parenting, gender, and sexuality, the editors provide the first comprehensive text about the mental health experiences of this umbrella group. Through case studies, South Asian American readers may feel validated in learning how others navigate issues like identity development and cultural conflict; meanwhile, mental health practitioners will gain foundational insights to assist in serving a population that is typically excluded from their training or textbooks."Kevin L. Nadal, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, City University of New York, and Past President of Asian American Psychological Association "This is the book that all clinicians working with South Asian American clients have been waiting for. The unique issues related to migration, culture, assimilation, social class and caste, religion, and colonialism all impact treatment planning and case conceptualization, and are issues that are often not traditionally covered in graduate training. This volume recognizes the heterogeneity of South Asian American clients, finally addresses intersectional issues associated with gender, colorism, LGBTQIA+ identities, and aging, and brings together authors with expertise in working with this diverse population." Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Clinical Psychologist, Author

• Part I: History and Evolution of South Asian American PsychologyChapter 1: South Asian American Counseling and PsychologyChapter 2: Casteism, Colonization and ColorismPart II: Immigration, Acculturation, and Identity DevelopmentChapter 3. Implications of Immigration, Racism, and the Current Sociopolitical ClimateChapter 4: South Asian American IdentityChapter 5: South Asian American Multiracial, Multi Heritage and Diaspora IdentitiesPart III: Gender, Sexuality, and Cultural Influences in Psychological AdaptationChapter 6: Impact of Gender Socialization and Cultural Norms of South Asian AmericansChapter 7: South Asian American LGBTQIA+ People and Communities: Developing Spaces of Empowerment and Liberation in Mental Health SettingsChapter 8: Religion Spirituality and Clinical ImplicationsChapter 9: South Asian American Marriages and DatingPart IV: Raising Families, Working with Elders and Providing Counseling ServicesChapter 10: Considerations for South Asian American Parenting and FamiliesChapter 11: Counseling South Asian American YouthChapter 12: Counseling Older South Asian AmericansChapter 13: Exploring the Nuanced South Asian American Therapeutic RelationshipPart V: Future of South Asian American Mental Health Chapter 14: South Asian American political Movements and Mental Health: the Importance of Advocacy, Social Justice, and Public Policy