Psychohistoriography

A Post-Colonial Psychoanalytical and Psychotherapeutic Model

Author: Frederick W. Hickling

Psychohistoriography lays out a model of group therapy which challenges dominant Eurocentric approaches to psychology and mental health, and includes a step by step process which professionals can use with clients of Caribbean descent to explore issues around race, identity and culture.

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Summary

Description

This book lays out the model of psychohistoriography, which challenges dominant Eurocentric approaches to psychology and mental health, and includes a step by step process which professionals can use with clients of Caribbean or black and minority ethnic (BME) descent to explore issues around race, identity and culture.

Psychohistoriography takes the form of a model for group psychotherapy in which members of a particular group or community narrate their stories within the context of a pertinent cultural or historical issue. The process includes deep breathing and stretching exercises, large group analysis where discussion and storytelling is encouraged, and exercises which involve challenging dominant discourses of historical events. At the heart of this process is a 'matrix': a time line showing a chronological period with two threads – one showing the events described from a European perspective, and the other showing the same events from a BME perspective, teaching clients to challenge pre-conceived conceptions of history, and its grand narratives. The final stage is the production and performance of 'scripts', as part of a group sociodrama which helps clients understand and explore their feelings.

This book will be of use to therapists, counsellors, mental health professionals and social workers with clients of Caribbean or other black and minority ethnic origin.

Critic Reviews

“As a psychotherapist with an interest in transcultural perspectives, I found its discussions about cultural sensitivity when working with clients from different heritages illuminating, relevant and powerful. I would recommend it to any practitioner seeking to broaden their understanding of these issues.”

-- Therapy Today

About the Author

Frederick W. Hickling, MBBS, DM, MRCPsych, FRSM was born in Jamaica and educated in medicine and psychiatry at the University of the West Indies. He received specialist training in Anatomy at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, University of London, and postgraduate training in psychiatry at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, University of Edinburgh. Recognised as a pioneer of cultural therapy in Jamaica, he is now Professor of Psychiatry at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and Executive Director of the Caribbean Institute of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. He is also Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) and Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

More on this Book

This book lays out the model of psychohistoriography, which challenges dominant Eurocentric approaches to psychology and mental health, and includes a step by step process which professionals can use with clients of Caribbean or black and minority ethnic (BME) descent to explore issues around race, identity and culture.Psychohistoriography takes the form of a model for group psychotherapy in which members of a particular group or community narrate their stories within the context of a pertinent cultural or historical issue. The process includes deep breathing and stretching exercises, large group analysis where discussion and storytelling is encouraged, and exercises which involve challenging dominant discourses of historical events. At the heart of this process is a 'matrix': a time line showing a chronological period with two threads - one showing the events described from a European perspective, and the other showing the same events from a BME perspective, teaching clients to challenge pre-conceived conceptions of history, and its grand narratives. The final stage is the production and performance of 'scripts', as part of a group sociodrama which helps clients understand and explore their feelings.This book will be of use to therapists, counsellors, mental health professionals and social workers with clients of Caribbean or other black and minority ethnic origin.