(PS6-76) Cognitive Modification En Español: Best Practices for Effective Cognitive Modifications for Spanish Speaking Monolingual Clients

Abstract Text: This study will provide a summary of the state of the evidence from a scoping review of the literature on best practices for strategies in delivering cognitive modification to low acculturated, monolingual Spanish speaking Latinx clients. Over the years, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has made progress in both clinical practice and research towards becoming more culturally relevant to diverse populations and being delivered in diverse languages. For example, the literature notes that CBT has been adapted for the treatment of depression for Muslims (Mir, 2015) and children diagnosed with trauma in Tanzania and Kenya (Woods-Jaeger, 2017) and meta-analysis have shown favorable results when adapted for Chinese people (Ng & Wong, 2018). CBT has also shown favorable results when adapted for Spanish speaking individuals both in individual and group protocols (Cintrón et al., 2018; Aguilera et al., 2010). This striving towards becoming a more equitable and inclusive modality highlights the many strengths of CBT. However, lacking in the literature are synthesized results from best practices to date in which specific strategies for the cognitive modification technique are outlined. This is important as findings have indicated that specific words used in cognitive modification have been deemed more acceptable than others when working with monolingual, low acculturated Spanish speaking Latinx. For example, “utíl” (helpful) versus “inutíl” (unhelpful) thinking pattern, has been favored by Spanish speaking low acculturated monolingual clients over the terms, “distorted” or “irrational” thinking patterns (Organista & Muñoz, 2013). Additionally, the use of “si, pero”, which translates into, “yes but,” has also been recommended as a key practice for cognitive modification (Cintrón et al., 2018). This study is particularly important given the “Browning of America” in which it is anticipated that in the year 2060, the United States population will be approximately 28% Latinx. This study also synthesizes recommendations for future practice and research as outlined by the literature.

References

Aguilera, A., Garza, M. J., & Munoz, R. F. (2010). Group cognitive‐behavioral therapy for depression in Spanish: culture‐sensitive manualized treatment in practice. Journal of clinical psychology, 66(8), 857-867.

Cintrón, V., Piedra, L. M., & Pineros-Leano, M. (2018). Vida Alegre: Teaching cognitive behavioral therapy in Spanish. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 38(3), 292-310.

Ng, T. K., & Wong, D. F. K. (2018). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for Chinese people: A meta-analysis. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(7), 620-637.

Organista, K. C., & Muñoz, R. F. (2013). Cognitive behavioral therapy with Latinos. In Readings in ethnic psychology (pp. 353-366). Routledge.

United States Census. (2017). National Population Projections and Vintage 2017 Population Estimates. www.census.gov/popest and www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popproj.html