Quick Guide for Clinicians - SAMHSA Store - Substance Abuse and ...

28 Substance Abuse Treatment: Group TherapyWhen working with group members from differentcultural or ethnic backgrounds, a group leadershould consider the following:• Symbolism and nonverbal communication. Insome cultural groups, direct expression ofthoughts and feelings is consideredinappropriate.• Cultural transference. If a group member hashad experiences with people of the same ethnicityas the therapist, the group member maytransfer to the therapist the feelings and reactionsdeveloped with others of the therapist’sethnicity.• Cultural countertransference. Countertransferenceof culture occurs when a therapist’sresponse to a current group member is basedon a previous experience with a member of thesameethnicity.• Ethnic prejudice. In multiethnic groups, it isvital to develop an environment in which it issafe to talk about race. Not to do so may resultin division along racial lines.