Book Description

As the number of culturally and ethnically diverse children increases in the United States each year, the need for treatment of serious mental illness in diverse children also increases. To be useful, treatment for diverse children should be sensitive to the cultural contextual needs of each child. With this in mind, this study examines how the field of psychology defines and uses interventions that are multiculturally appropriate to treat serious childhood mental illnesses. To reach this ambitious goal, this study specifically examines the childhood anxiety disorder, the most prevalent and debilitating class of childhood mental illness. A commonly used and well supported treatment manual for childhood anxiety called the Coping Cat receives particular attention. First, a comprehensive literature review is conducted on anxiety disorders in children. Second, the significance, yet historical neglect of the study of anxiety in diverse populations of children is examined. Third, a discussion of a multicultural therapeutic approach to mental health treatment occurs. Following this, an in-depth description and empirical support of the Coping Cat protocol is provided. Fifth, a critical study of how the Coping Cat is appropriate to treat children of diverse cultures and ethnicities based on the guidelines and literature available is offered. The critical study demonstrates the protocol's sound use and inclusion of multicultural theory and therapeutic practices. The study also provides recommendations that would continue to add to the strength of the Coping Cat in making it a multiculturally appropriate treatment protocol. Finally, a discussion follows in which an evaluation of the Coping Cat protocol can be implemented for future research endeavors.