The American Latino: Psychodynamic Perspectives on Culture and Mental Health Issues

(Hardback)

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The American Latino: Psychodynamic Perspectives on Culture and Mental Health Issues focuses on the culture of the Hispanic population in the United States and replaces stereotypes with portrayals based on factual information. The scope of the material covered is vast and includes the topics of ethnic identity, gender roles, religion and spirituality, family resilience, and the joys and sufferings of leading a bicultural life. Opening with a thorough survey of Latin-American immigration to the United States and closing with an illustration-rich discourse on being a Hispanic-American psychotherapist in this country, the contributors examines with both normative and psychopathological realms. Help-seeking patterns, vulnerability of some Hispanic youth to drugs and gang-related affiliations, and the fine technical adjustments in conducting psychotherapy with individuals of this growing subpopulation are elucidated with great compassion and empathy. The American Latino is a shining document of the coexistence of universal similarity and cultural uniqueness of the human psyche. Reading it will enhance knowledge, enrich attunement, and sharpen therapeutic skills for working with Latin American clients.

Reviews

The American Latino: Psychodynamic Perspectives on Culture and Mental Health Issues offers an introduction to the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S. The text can be a useful resource for students and mental health professionals not familiar with this growing U.S. population. -- Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueas, Ph.D., The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
The collection of chapters in The American Latino: Psychodynamic Perspectives on Culture and Mental Health Issues provide a basic overview of the U.S. Latino/a population. The contributors connect theory and clinical experience to help readers visualize diverse ways of working with Latino/as in mental health settings. This book will appeal to students and mental health professionals interested in the Latino/a experience. -- Hector Y. Adames, Psy.D., The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
The American Latino is a well-crafted volume that provides a broad scope of Latino culture and psychological dynamics not commonly found in most standard texts. It is an important clinical resource for all mental health professionals working with immigrant and US-born Latinos. As a Latina immigrant and psychoanalyst, I firmly believe that this book constitutes essential reading for both the novice and the experienced clinician! -- Carmela Perez, PhD, Institute for Psychoanalytic Education at New York University

Author Bio

Salman Akhtar, MD, is professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College and training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Solange Margery Bertoglia, MD, is on the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University, and has a clinical and forensic practice.