ABSTRACT
This chapter will deal with some of the challenges involved in working therapeutically with East Indian clients. While their presenting complaints are similar to those in North American clients of European descent, their clinical picture is complicated by cultural issues unique to India. These involve helping a client work on making a relationship work regardless of attraction or compatibility, working on family dynamics without being able to collaborate with family members, finding a time to see a client who would disguise their appointment within a working day, helping a client work through perfectionism when it is highly valued within their context. The chapter will present and illustrated a culturally sensitive approach to working with East Indian patients that considers both the cultural background of the patient as well as the role of the therapist.
