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Psychologists try to understand children’s problems in the context of their culture and past experiences. One way to do this is to conduct a cultural formulation interview. Here are some sample questions from the interview that a clinician might ask:

I would like to understand the problems that bring your family here so that I can help you more effectively. I want to know about your experiences and ideas. I will ask some questions about what is going on and how your family is dealing with it. There are no right or wrong answers.

Cultural Definition of the Child’s Problem

People often understand problems in their own way, which may be similar or different from how doctors describe the problem. How would you describe your family’s problem?

Cultural Perceptions of the Problem’s Cause and Context

Sometimes, people’s background or identity can make problems better or worse. By “background or identity” I mean the communities you belong to, the languages you speak, where you and your family are from, your race or ethnicity, your gender or sexual orientation, and your faith or religion. Are there any aspects of your family’s background or identity that make a difference to this problem?

Cultural Factors Affecting Coping and Past Help-Seeking

Has anything prevented your family from getting the help it needs? For example, money, work or family commitments, stigma or discrimination, or people who do not understand your language or background?

Cultural Factors Affecting Current Help-Seeking

Sometimes, therapists and clients misunderstand each other because they come from different backgrounds and have different expectations. Have you been concerned about this and is there anything we can do to provide your family with the care you need?

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Note: Based on Lewis-Fernandez et al. (2016).

Fourth, the clinician assesses cultural factors affecting current help-seeking. Does the family feel comfortable working with the clinician? Is the treatment suggested by the clinician acceptable to the family? At first, Sara’s family was more willing to speak to a physician, rather than a mental health professional, about her problem. They might also prefer a professional who speaks Spanish. We might suggest meeting with the family for a few sessions, during convenient hours, to help Sara feel more comfortable at school. After a few sessions, the family can reappraise the situation and decide if it is useful for them (Aggarwal, Jimenez-Solomon, Lam, Hinton, & Lewis-Fernandez, 2016).