A note on cultural sensitivity in family system therapy

Abstract

Some considerations on the debate about cultural sensitivity in the practice of family system therapy are reported. Firstly, the different meanings of the concept are summarized. Then, the author formulates the hypothesis that most part of the related literature addresses this topic as the need of a cultural adaptation of the therapeutic processes to the ethnic minorities through a remodulation of the training programs, thus risking of disown the systemic nature of cultures. The Bateson contributions about culture is recalled supporting the idea that every single therapy with the family is always an “otherness” experience by which all the members of the therapeutic system are charged of a mutual legitimacy effort.