Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Narrative Therapy for Chinese Adults Raised as an Only Child

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article explores how to apply narrative therapy to working with Chinese only children. The author first addresses the relevance of viewing Chinese only children as a unique client population and the reasons narrative therapy can fit this population well. The author then uses examples and a brief case study to discuss key applications of this approach in different contexts. Lastly, the author considers potential concerns of using narrative therapy with Chinese only children.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chen, C. P. (1995). Group counseling in a different cultural context: Several primary issues in dealing with Chinese clients. Group, 19, 45–55. doi:10.1007/BF01458190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epston, D. (1994). Extending the conversation. Family Therapy Networker, 18(6), 30–37, 62–63.

  • Freedman, J., & Combs, G. (1996). Narrative therapy: The social construction of preferred realities. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, E. M., & Couchonnal, G. (2006). Narrative and culturally based approaches in practice with families. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 87(2), 198–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, L. T., Zheng, M., Liu, Y., & Sun, C. H. (2002). Attitudes to marriage and sexual behaviors: A survey of gender and culture differences in China and United Kingdom. Sex Roles, 46, 75–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, K. (1981). Traditional Chinese medical beliefs and their relevance for mental illness and psychiatry. In A. Kleinman & T. Lin (Eds.), Normal and abnormal behavior in chinese culture (pp. 95–114). Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, J. L. C. (2000). Treatment expectations and treatment experience of Chinese families towards family therapy: Appraisal of a common belief. Journal of Family Therapy, 22, 296–307. doi:10.1111/1467-6427.00153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. (1991). 1990 annual report on civil affairs. Retrieved from http://cws.mca.gov.cn/article/tjbg/200801/20080100009430.shtml.

  • Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. (2011). Quarterly statistical report on civil affairs. Retrieved from http://files2.mca.gov.cn/cws/201102/20110212093628359.htm.

  • Monk, G., Winslade, J., Grocket, K., & Epston, D. (Eds.). (1997). Narrative therapy in practice: The archaeology of hope. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G., Gladstone, G., & Chee, K. T. (2001). Depression in the planet’s largest ethnic group: The Chinese. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 857–864.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parry, A., & Doan, R. E. (1994). Story re-visions: Narrative therapy in the postmodern world. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Short, S. E., & Zhai, F. (1998). Looking locally at China’s One-Child Policy. Studies in Family Planning, 29(4), 373–387.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toro-Morn, M., & Sprecher, S. (2003). A cross-cultural comparison of mate preferences among university students: The United States versus the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 34(2), 151–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsui, P., & Schultz, G. L. (1985). Failure of rapport: Why psychotherapeutic engagement fails in the treatment of Asian clients. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 55, 561–569.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L. (1994). Marriage and family therapy with people from China. Contemporary Family Therapy, 16, 25–37. doi:10.1007/BF02197600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, M. (2007). Maps of narrative practice. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, B., Ollendick, T. H., Dong, Q., Xia, Y., & Lin, L. (1995). Only children and children with siblings in the People’s Republic of China: Levels of fear, anxiety, and depression. Child Development, 66, 1301–1311. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1995.tb00936.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y., Kohnstamm, G. A., Cheung, P. C., & Lau, S. (2001). A new look at the old little emperor: Developmental changes in the personality of only children in china. Social Behavior and Personality, 29(7), 725–731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Dr. Fred Piercy for his help and support during the development of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA

    Ruoxi Chen

Authors
  1. Ruoxi Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruoxi Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, R. Narrative Therapy for Chinese Adults Raised as an Only Child. Contemp Fam Ther 34, 104–111 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-012-9177-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-012-9177-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation