M Lammers, Culturally responsive interventions for Maori clients
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M Lammers, Culturally responsive interventions for Maori clients
- 1. Experiences of a non-Mãori therapist working with Mãori clients Presenter: Marianne Lammers PhD (Psych) Karaka Special Treatment Unit Dept. of Corrections He moana pukepuke, e ekengia e te waka (A choppy sea can be navigated) A. H. Macfarlane
Notas del editor
- Experiences of a non-Mãori therapist working with Mãori clients in a correctional therapy environment I work in a prison Most of my clients are Maori I was born in Europe, not familiar with Maori practices, feeling disadvantaged. Needed to familiarise myself with the values and practices of Maori culture. Having an understanding of the meaning of practices, to the point where I feel comfortable working with people from both cultures.
- Treaty of Waitangi sets out the basis of respect between Maori and non-Maori. We need to understand each other’s culture so that one does not unintentionally disrespect the other out of ignorance. Article 1 – Partnership, good faith and reasonableness Article 2 – Protection of property, self management of resources Article 3 – Participation, legal equality; consultation is required. We need to see Maori and Pakeha values and practices as equal but different, which means that we do not take Western values and practices as the reference points for Maori practices. Each is seen as uniquely and equally important. (Nairn, in Evans, Rucklidge & O’Driscoll, 2007). Dr Pip Pehi NSCBI wrote in her article in Psychology Aotearoa that the problem is not a lack of incompatibility between the cultures and their knowledge systems (Durie ,2003), or a lack of goodwill between the Treaty people. It rests mainly on the power imbalance that has been created and maintained between Maori and non-Maori through the history of the suppression and undermining of the Maori culture by the dominant rule-making Institutions and discourses (Turia, 2001) So what effect does being suppressed and undermined have on people?
- Accepting that NZ political acts in the past, through oppression, prejudice and discrimination, have diminished and disempowered the cultural identity of the Maori population, with detrimental effects on psychological well-being (Herbert & Morrison, in Evans, Rucklidge & O’Driscoll, 2007). Identity is a construct derived from the nature of relationships with the external world ( Durie, 2003, p. 50). Devaluing Maori as a race therefore impacted their identity formation, their developmental outcomes and manifested through symptoms of mental illness ( McFarlane-Nathan 1994, 1997, NZ Psychologists Board, 2006). Identity is an important cultural and psychological issue as individuals who belong to a group that is denigrated, put down and treated in a stereotypically derogatory way by the majority group – face a threat to self concept. ( McFarlane-Nathan 1994, McFarlane, 1998). I need to show my clients that I respect them. By supporting the Bicultural Therapy Model (BTM) and encouraging clients to enrol in it.
- My understanding of Maori values. Maori Values – based on relationships, a sense of community, on encouragement, love, care, and compassion. Needed to incorporate these values into the way I interact with Maori clients, to promote feelings of acceptance and self respect. Relatedness reduces difference ( Armon). Both /and rather than And/or in terms of relatedness ( Martin Milton, counseling Psychologist). Mihi - Incorporate this into case management or interview with a Maori client – sets the tone of the meeting Whakawhanauangatanga – building relationships based on kinship, common locality, and common interests , done through whakapapa (genealogy), while non-Maori may base it on shared experiences . It help to establish therapeutic rapport and development of relevant interventions, is a vehicle towards improving self-esteem and identity. Whakamanawa – a very important concept that from a Western perspective that values self-reliance is not always appreciated Manaakitanga – reciprocal and unqualified caring, based on respect and kindness, a ‘duty of care’( McFarlane, 2007). Adopting an ethic of care helps establish cultural connectedness and is closely related to tautoko ( support) (helping someone sing their waiata when they don’t know it. Person was metaphorically embraced and supported by that action). Aroha – refers to love in different aspects such as compassion, empathy, responsiveness, and concern. It is central to Maori interactions with people. It is a principle that seeks positive relationships to enhance the wellbeing and self worth of others and self. Professionals are often much better at talking to people but often seem to lack, or at least not demonstrate, real compassion ( Durie, 1990). Awhi – Basic to Maori therapy ( Durie, Webb). Embrace through gratitude, relief, expression of empathy, and reconnection after a period of absence, to cherish, draw near to, to embrace. Awhi suggests support and nurturing . Responding appropriately with touch is seen as a sign of respect, and clients are humbled by that ( Mate Webb). Is part of reciprocity and conveys good intentions. Rejecting a hug of appreciation could have a negative therapeutic effect.
- Awhi – Basic to Maori therapy ( Durie, Webb). Although touch is basic to therapy from a Mãori perspective, Webb, as well as Durie and Hermansson (1990) have stated that it often presents a real problem for non- Mãori professionals as it is at times seen as violating their Code of Practice. The Psychologists Code of Practice (2002) does not explicitly prohibit touch. However, Principle 3.3.2. states that therapists “maintain appropriate boundaries with those with whom they work and carefully consider their actions in order to maintain their role” (p.24). The Code is a guideline rather than Rules of Conduct (Seymour, 2007) one needs to use the Code as an aid to ethical decision making.
- The implications of a female therapist touching prisoners in such a context, arguably is a critical aspect of a debate that must be held and is difficult to resolve. Steve Berry, National Manager Special Treatment Units, 15 August 2009). Webb, who works in a sex offender unit in prison stated that he had never seen a negative outcome of touch between therapists and prisoner clients in their unit if it is part of reciprocity and conveys good intentions (Mate Webb, cultural advisor Dept Corrections, 4 October 2010). As professionals we need to walk a fine line between attending to Mãori clients’ need for human touch within a cultural context, while not overstepping the ethical boundary. We can do this by applying the Principles, Values and Practice implications in the light of the identified risks and benefits. Unless there is an identified risk that is greater than the benefit of culturally responding to a client’s needs, attending to the client’s feelings with appropriate touch, such as touching a shoulder, when trauma is disclosed should not interfere with treatment. To the contrary; it denotes empathy and compassion. Seymour (2007) states that the Code encourages practitioners to identify and consider higher order principles and values relevant to the situation and then to weigh the associated practice implications.
- I have talked about Maori values and will now turn to Maori concepts. How can I put these in practice? By encouraging family connections through having whanau meetings while the men are still in prison. It is important to gauge whanau ability to provide support when the men are released. (refer to the family, the sub tribe and the tribe to which Mãori declare they belong (Macfarlane, 1998). These represent nests of identity and security, as well as representing the importance of collective responsibilities and connectedness.) By honouring customary beliefs that define the conduct and relationship of Maori with people, lands and gods. My clients teach me tikanga ( stepping over legs, saying goodbye to every one on leaving, order of waiata in process of welcoming new member when waiata is already part of our everyday process after karakia). By incorporating tikanga Mãori in group ceremonies through consulting the Mãori consultant of one’s work, and to be guided by that so that protocol is followed . I understand that Tika is a relational principle which is underpinned by virtue of being ‘right and proper’ in relationship to other people, all creation and spiritual powers; and refers to justice (Macfarlane, 1997), while pono is a motivational concept of integrity and faithfulness to tika and aroha and the driving force of practicing the principles of tika and aroha. Our pono, our sense of integrity, propels us to practice tika and aroha. Tika, aroha, and pono are part of the kawa of our therapy group, and we remind each other to behave in the spirit of these concepts. By building these concepts into practice through acknowledging beliefs and practices held by Mãori I hope to facilitate Maori personal wellbeing . It is my pono, my sense of integrity, that propels me to do what is right by respecting Maori values and practices. In this way I strive to practice in a culturally safe way. My understanding is that Wairua refers to spirituality. It is an essential part of the holistic Mãori model of wellbeing. Psychological settings, such as treatment rooms, also have a wairua which relates to the ethos or climate of the room or institution (Macfarlane, 1998). For wairua to be present in the treatment room a therapist needs to behave authentically (tika), with compassion (aroha), and bring clinical as well as cultural practitioner knowledge (pono) to the practice in a way that is responsive to the needs of Mãori clients. Furthermore, there needs to be institutional support for a therapist to honour Mãori values and protocol, and this support needs to include financial support so that, for example, a practitioner can practice manaakitanga by providing food and drink at culturally appropriate times. The institutional climate therefore interacts with the therapist’s cultural practices and determines the I have talked about Maori values and will now turn to Maori concepts. How can I put these into practice?wairua, whether good or bad, in the treatment setting.
- One Mãori model of health that incorporates all these values and concepts is Durie’s (1994) Whare Tapa Wha model of health, which compares health to the four walls of a house, which symbolises strength and balance. When one dimension is out of balance, the other three dimensions are under stress. I keep using this model throughout the programme, because all sorts of issues can be discussed in terms of this health model, and the model guides the men as to what they need to attend to when things go wrong for them. The men in the therapy group relate to this model because they have had personal experience of what happens when the different health dimensions are out of balance. They know, for example, that when they are mentally or emotionally unwell, their body, their family and their spirit are under stress because of it, and they need to give extra attention to these other dimension in order to stay in balance. One can also use the model in the assessment interview to check a client's overall well being.
- I conclude by summarising the things we can do . Promoting the Bicultural Therapy Model (BTM) and encouraging Mãori clients to enrol in it. It is crucial to promote this therapy model, for as Durie (2003) points out, approaches that connect people with their culture and their communities help to develop a secure cultural identity and increase the potential for change . Psychological treatment and bicultural therapy therefore work in tandem, side by side, and each mutually enhances the other for the benefit of our Mãori clients. Using cultural supervision to guide one’s work by discussing responses to cultural issues that arise in group. Being able to bring current issues to supervision and getting a Mãori perspective on the dynamics in the therapy room is invaluable in one’s work. By diligently practising all of the above, one can be confident of being better able to be responsive to the needs of Mãori, and Mãori clients are more likely to feel culturally safer when participating in group therapy.
- What Angus McFarlane has taught me is that It is only through exposure to and awareness of Mãori culture and language that an understanding of a Mãori world view will develop Emerging evidence (For example in relation to drug and alcohol treatment see, Robertson et al., 2001).