Japanese Experience of Deciding to Enter Psychotherapy: A Phenomenological Study
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Authors
Grant, Kaho Sugi
Issue Date
2004
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Psychological services are under-utilized in Japan. Cultural attitudes toward mental illness challenge the use of psychotherapy for resolving mental distress. This study focused on the Japanese experience of deciding to enter psychotherapy to understand the Japanese worldview better and provide some clinical insights into psychological education and treatment. The phenomenological approach developed by Giorgi (1970) was used as a method to understand the lived experience of each participant and thus to describe the essential structure of the phenomenon. Four Japanese adult females who underwent Western psychotherapy in the Japanese language were interviewed. Several themes emerged through the data. (1) Participants were in significant emotional distress and realized their coping strategies were no longer effective. (2) All negotiated psychosocial and cultural factors before entering psychotherapy. (3) Each obtained referrals from trusted and respected individuals. (4) All had exposure to culturally atypical and unconventional experiences, including Western cultures. Language, culture, and treatment considerations are discussed. As globalization continues, Japanese are required to negotiate the gap between traditional values and new ideologies. Western psychotherapy, if modified to suit Japanese values and psyche, might emerge as an effective treatment alternative for emotional distress.