Effective Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Treatment for Ethnic Minorities

Members of the Sikh Khalsa who make their residence in the United States represent a psychologically underserved and understudied population. A lack of awareness of psychological services contributes to this status; however, the challenges inherent in reconciling cultural norms within the United States with the native cultures of immigrant populations should not be neglected. As a consequence of the paucity of ethnically Sikh psychotherapists, the number of therapists with a competent cultural understanding of this population is limited. By sharing the insights and observations culled from dialogue with members of a Sikh community recovering in the wake of a national tragedy, we present our insights and an approach to therapeutic intervention developed to facilitate future psychotherapeutic endeavors both in Sikh communities and other ethnic minorities at large. The model developed in this study identifies demographic issues, therapeutic approach, gender bias, language, confidentiality, peer support, and immigrant status as the most important factors when treating this population. Ultimately, it is our intention to elevate awareness of some of the idiosyncratic complexities involved in treatment and research of this underserved minority group, particularly as our population continues to diversify.