Author: Dr. Murat Artiran

Foreword
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Language Editor
Preface
Introduction
Part I Western Theory
1 What Is This Book For?
2 The Essentials of RE and & CBT
3 The Bs of the ABC Model
4 The Goals of Therapy
5 What the Theory Says, What the Culture Understands
Part II Eastern Sources
6 A Brief History of Psychology in the Middle East
7 Unconditional Acceptance and Sufism
8 Middle Eastern Metaphors
9 Middle Eastern Idioms, Proverbs, and & Folk Sayings
10 Session Structures and Examples

FOREWORD

Ann Vernon, Ph.D .
We live in an increasingly diverse society which that necessitates cultural sensitivity in the field of psychotherapy. As Dr. Murat Artiran so aptly stated in the first chapter of this book, “the [A] client is like a hero in a novel, with a unique, personal history” (p . 2 ). This unique history must inform therapy in order to assure a better therapeutic outcome. Therefore, the sensitive psychologist must not only consider not only the theoretical approach that guides the therapy, but also the cultural context.
A Cross Cross-Cultural Redefinition of Rational Emotive andE& Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:CBT from From the West to the Middle East is a welcome addition to the RE and &CBT literature. While practitioners throughout the world employ this theory with clients from diverse cultures, there is a still a real need for information about specific cultural adaptations. Dr. Artiran’s book focuses specifically on the applications of RE &and CBT from the perspective and expectations of Middle Eastern clients. He makes the point that it can be difficult to adapt a foreign theory to a different culture and stresses the importance of careful consideration of cultural as well as subcultural differences before initiating any therapeutic approach.
While many practitioners acknowledge the importance of conceptualizing client problems based on theory as well as cultural realities, this is different than knowing how to do it. In this book, Dr. Artiran does an excellent job of pointing out the differences between a Western perspective and a Middle Eastern perspective where the society is more collectivist and people do not readily seek counseling from a professional. In fact, mental health is a misunderstood concept and treatment is considered a taboo, although that appears to be changing with younger generations. He discusses how various concepts such as the self are perceived differently based on cultural values, history, and social rules. He highlights the Middle Easterners’ interpretation of cognitive distortions and other aspects of RE and &CBT theory, helping readers understand the cultural backdrop which that must inform practice.
While this book does a thorough job of presenting the way clients from Middle Eastern cultures experience the world, it goes a step beyond this and describes specific factors that should be useful to practitioners who are working with clients from this cultural perspective. For example, he discusses the use of metaphors, idioms, proverbs, and folk sayings that will make counseling much more relevant for these clients. He outlines the structure of a session with culturally sensitive adaptations, which should be extremely beneficial in working with clients from Middle Eastern cultures. Throughout the book there are numerous helpful examples that should help professionals with an individualistic, Western perspective develop a more culturally refined framework when applying RE and &CBT with Middle Eastern clients.
It is my pleasure to write this foreword for a book that so thoroughly translates theory to practice within the cultural framework of the Middle East.