The construct of IDENTITY inevitably plays a prominent role when we talk about cross-cultural work. I know (tacit knowledge) from my personal experience of living between (or within) two cultures (referring to ‘countries’) that my identity (not only cultural) has been affected in a number of ways, something difficult to put into words. As a Greek, growing up at the far East corner of Europe – with a Cypriot father – I ‘carry’ features of both East and West…and yet I was trained as a therapist in a very western (UK) environment and have been living in it for a few years now. Although, my country is a member of EU, politically governed by ‘democracy’ etc, we are yet a nation that has been historically repeatedly invaded until recent years…and dominated by nations with whom we presently seem to have ‘equal’ rights, according to EU standards…the boundaries of dynamics of power become kind of blurred at this point. When thinking about all this, C. Lago (2006, Identity Development and its role in Therapy) sent me this excellent paper where he critically reflects on identity development models and challenges therapists in considering the following: … Read more »

Reflecting on my own cultural background and the observations I made around relationship dynamics in the different cultural environments I have been exposed to, I became very aware of the role of the use of ‘power’, especially when acknowledging the existence of ‘dominant’ and ‘dominated’ cultures, and how such tendencies inevitably come into play in the counselling room. And, although those involved in delivering psychological/support services are in a ‘caring’ role, I think it is of paramount importance to remember Contenuto’s saying, not to encourage fear towards one’s role but to cultivate the necessary humility within those ‘helping’ roles. … Read more »