Earn 1.5 CEUS!*
Umme Kawser is a doctoral candidate in the Couple and Family Therapy program at the University of Minnesota. Her research and clinical work focus on culturally responsive systemic therapy, couple relationships, and therapeutic processes within South Asian contexts. She has conducted qualitative and applied clinical research on divorce decision-making, emotion processes, and therapeutic engagement in Bangladesh. Her clinical practice integrates systemic and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) principles with cultural attunement to support couples and families navigating relational distress. She also provides workshops and training on cultural adaptation in therapy for practitioners working with diverse and international populations.
Description
Systemic therapy models, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), offer powerful frameworks for understanding relational processes, emotional needs, and interactional patterns. However, applying these models within South Asian contexts requires careful cultural adaptation. South Asian families often navigate layered cultural expectations, collective decision-making structures, strong interdependence, extended family involvement, and norms around emotional restraint. Without cultural attunement, therapeutic processes may not align with clients’ lived realities or relational logic.
This training offers an in-depth exploration of how systemic and EFT-based practices can be effectively adapted to work with South Asian couples and families, with a particular focus on clinical work in Bangladesh. Drawing on research and applied clinical experience, the session examines how cultural values such as hierarchy, familism, community reputation, and gendered expectations influence therapeutic engagement, alliance-building, and emotional processing. Participants will learn how these cultural dynamics intersect with systemic concepts such as interactional cycles, attachment needs, and relational positioning.
Through detailed case examples, the presentation illustrates how therapists can modify their interventions while maintaining the integrity of systemic and attachment-based models. Topics include adjusting language and metaphors, pacing emotional exploration, navigating indirect communication styles, integrating extended family perspectives, and using culturally relevant reframes. Emphasis is placed on strengthening therapists cultural humility, recognizing culturally shaped emotional expressions, and responding in ways that support safety and accessibility for clients.
The training also considers common clinical dilemmas that arise when working with South Asian populations, such as navigating family boundaries, addressing stigma around therapy, working with couples considering divorce, and balancing cultural sensitivity with evidence-based practice. Throughout the session, participants will be encouraged to reflect on their assumptions, broaden their cultural formulation skills, and consider how contextual awareness enhances therapeutic effectiveness.
By the end of the training, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to apply systemic and EFT principles within the cultural frameworks of South Asian families. They will be better equipped to provide culturally responsive, relationally attuned care. This session is well-suited for clinicians working with South Asian immigrant communities, international populations, or any clients whose cultural values significantly influence relational processes.
Objectives:
1. Identify key cultural and contextual factors that shape couple and family therapy processes within South Asian contexts, with a focus on Bangladesh.
2. Analyze how Systemic and Emotionally Focused approaches can be culturally adapted to improve therapeutic engagement and intervention fit.
3. Apply culturally attuned clinical decision-making through case-based examples illustrating therapy with South Asian couples and families.
4. Evaluate how the therapist's cultural humility, relational attunement, and contextual awareness influence treatment outcomes in cross-cultural systemic work.
*This CE activity offered by Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family is approved by the Minnesota Board of Social Work as an approved CE Provider (approval valid through July 25, 2026).
This CE activity is pending CE approval with Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.
