Addressing Culture, Gender, and Power with Asian American Couples: Application of Socio‐Emotional Relationship Therapy

• Author: Yuwei Wu,Jessica ChenFeng,Lana Kim,Carmen Knudson‐Martin
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12251
• Published date: 01 September 2017
• Date: 01 September 2017

Addressing Culture, Gender, and Power with Asian

American Couples: Application of Socio-Emotional

Relationship Therapy

JESSICA CHENFENG*

LANA KIM

†

YUWEI WU

‡

CARMEN KNUDSON-MARTIN

†

Asian Americans juggle the intersections of multiple social identities and societal dis-

courses as they respond to experiences of immigration, marginalization, and patriarchy,

integrate collectivist and individualistic family values, and form families and intimate

relationships. In this study we examine what we have learned as we apply Socio-Emotional

Relationship Therapy (SERT) with heterosexual couples of Asian heritage. SERT begins

with sociocultural attunement and the assumption that relationships should mutually

support each partner. Drawing on case examples, we illustrate how we practice sociocul-

tural attunement as couples respond to the relational processes that comprise the Circle of

Care (mutual influence, vulnerability, attunement, and shared relational responsibility).

We emphasize three key socioemotional themes that intersect with gender: (1) intangible

loss; (2) quiet fortitude/not burdening others; and (3) duty to the family.

Keywords: Asian American; Couples Therapy; Attunement; Gender; Power ; Culture

Fam Proc 56:558–573, 2017

Couple and family therapists are increasingly aware of the need for socioculturally

attuned practice (Falicov, 2009; Pandit, ChenFeng, Kang, Knudson-Martin, & Huen-

ergardt, 2014). A key challenge is to not stereotype or essentialize members of an ethnic or

cultural group, while also drawing upon knowledge of the sociopolitical context and issues

of gender, power, and privilege (Almeida, Hern

andez-Wolfe, & Tubbs, 2011). Socio-

Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) is an approach that takes this position. It begins

with sociocultural attunement and works from a model of mutual support and equality

that challenges the effects of societal-based power processes (Knudson-Martin & Huener-

gardt, 2010, 2015; Knudson-Martin et al., 2015). In this study we explore how we apply

these practices in our work with North American heterosexual couples of Asian heritage.

We share our observations from our locations as cisgender heterosexual women with

clinical and research interests in Asian populations (e.g., ChenFeng, Knudson-Martin, &

Nelson, 2015; Kim, Knudson-Martin, & Tuttle, 2014). Jessica, Lana, and Carmen were

part of the clinical research group that developed and studied SERT. Jessica is

*Educational Psychology and Counseling, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA.

†

Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy, Counseling Psychology, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR.

‡

Counseling Psychology, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jessica ChenFeng, Educational Psychol-

ogy and Counseling, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA

91330. E-mail: jessica.chenfeng@csun.edu.

558

Family Process, Vol. 56, No. 3, 2017 ©2016 Family Process Institute

doi: 10.1111/famp.12251

second-generation Taiwanese American, born and raised in southern California. Lana is

second-generation Korean Canadian, born and raised in Canada. Yuwei is a Chinese

national studying family therapy in the United States. Carmen is a European American

with Scandinavian roots.

SOCIOCULTURAL ATTUNEMENT AND THE SERT APPROACH

The SERT approach involves three phases that build upon each other: (I) establishing

an equitable foundation for therapy, (II) interrupting the flow of power, and (III) facilitat-

ing alternative experience (Knudson-Martin & Huenergardt, 2015).

Phase I: Establish an Equitable Foundation for Practice

SERT therapists begin with the assumption that multiple societal discourses give

meaning to experience and suggest appropriate behaviors (Dickerson, 2014; Knudson-

Martin & Huenergardt, 2010; Krolokke & Sorensen, 2006). In any given context people

draw on multiple societal discourses and perform culture in different ways. What is salient

and meaningful varies from context to context and across time (Monk, Winslade, & Sin-

clair, 2008). Moreover, culture is always in an ongoing process of evolution and change

(Falicov, 2009).

We define Asian American broadly. The couples in this article represent a variety of

intersecting social positions and contexts, shaped in part by whether they are 1st, 1.5, or

2nd generation. They are persons of Asian ethnic descent who may identify with the cul-

ture of their ethnic heritage to some degree, and share the experience of being influenced

by dominant North American culture. Their identity is negotiated in a society that views

them as “other.” Although it is helpful to be aware of shared societal discourses within a

community, we try to attune to what it means to each person to identify as Asian Ameri-

can and help them be more aware and intentional regarding their responses to societal

messages.

We practice sociocultural attunement from the premise that emotion arises within par-

ticular societal contexts (Knudson-Martin & Huenergardt, 2010; Sarbin, 2001). Em otion is

embodied as neural responses to societal experience (Siegel, 2001). Humans need recipro-

cal attunement to feel safe and valued (Fishbane, 2007; Porges, 2009). Inequities related

to intersecting societal contexts such as social status, patriarchy, and racism and traumas

related to loss, war, and migration affect reciprocal attunement. Creating an equitable

foundation for change in couple therapy requires that therapists first “get” or resonate

with each client’s socioemotional experience, not only to understand but also to establis h

safety and openness to the process of relational engagement (Knudson-Martin & Huener-

gardt, 2010).

Phase II: Interrupt Inequitable Power Processes

Power is a fluid, dynamic process through which people influence and atten d to one

another. Power differences are built into social roles and identities and create differential

opportunities, access to resources, and expectations about what one is entitled to (Lesli e &

Southard, 2009; McDowell & Fang, 2007). Invisible and latent power is structured into

the way gender is constructed (Knudson-Martin, 2015; Komter, 1989; Mahoney & Knud-

son-Martin, 2009) such that male needs, interests, and desires frequently receive more

attention (Knudson-Martin, 2013). While maintaining emotional support and con nection

with each partner, therapists seek to interrupt inequitable flows of power and enable

alternative experience based on mutual support.

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