WESTERN PSYCHOTHERAPY IN TRADITIONAL ARABIC SOCIETIES

Because psychotherapy has largely been the product of Western culture, it has tended to emphasize individualism in that the self is usually defined as separate from a collective social identity. However, there has been no corresponding development of individualism in traditional Arab society. Psychotherapy has been described as a process in which o ne becomes aware of, and learns to express feelings and needs that wer e previously prohibited or unconscious. The generic goal of psychother apy has often been described as ''self-integration'' or ''self-actuali zation.'' Such goals would be condemned in Arabic society, where colle ctive identity is given precedence over the self Although Western psyc hotherapy can help to alleviate internal conflicts within the Arabic c lient, it will often result in greater conflict between the individual and society. In fact, many of the basic techniques of psychotherapy a re at odds with core beliefs of the Arabic culture. This paper present s a conceptualization in which Western psychotherapy can successfully be adapted to current Middle Eastern culture.