Family Treatment for a Chinese Family With an Adolescent Suffering From Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Study

Abstract

In this article, the self-starvation problem of a Chinese adolescent girl is contextualized within the unique sociocultural characteristics of Hong Kong. Using this case illustration, the cultural differences between the East and the West are discussed to reveal how Chinese families and their way of handling conflicts can be both a hindrance and an asset to family treatment. Based on Micucci’s family treatment model, the author has augmented her approach with Chinese patients using two culture-sensitive strategies: (a) making use of the emotional anomie and (b) assisting in conflict resolution.