ABSTRACT
Demographically, Asian Americans currently constitute the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States (Lott, 1998). Within this subgroup, South Asians are the fourth largest ethnic subgroup, approximating a population of 2,963,999 in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). Typically, individuals from South Asia have included those who are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. As the South Asian and South Asian American population continues to increase, it becomes important to examine how their experiences may be similar or different from other Asian-American groups. This chapter focuses on the specific experience of South Asians and South Asian Americans, the unique challenges faced within the context of immigration and acculturation, and the therapeutic issues pertinent for this group.
