The use of nonverbal synchrony in creating trust and rapport in a culturally diverse therapeutic setting.

摘要

As the U.S. has grown more culturally diverse, increased multicultural competence has become essential for MFT therapists assisting multicultural patients and their families. This theoretical dissertation reports on the application of certain aspects of nonverbal synchrony (mirroring/matching behavior which is believed to be innate in humans) in establishing therapeutic rapport (mutual trust or emotional affinity) with multicultural patients lacking a proficiency in English. These pre-cultural techniques provide a useful means of overcoming cultural misunderstandings and of establishing the strong therapeutic alliance that research has shown is a predictor of successful therapeutic outcome (Byrne, 1971; Diijksterhuis & Bargh, 2001; Hall, 1981). Specifically, this study expands previous research by applying these nonverbal modalities in establishing trust and rapport between therapist and culturally diverse patients. Anecdotal evidence is presented in support of the efficacy of nonverbal synchrony. It is concluded that nonverbal synchrony can be used by MFTs as a means of overcoming the deficiencies in minority representation among therapists and multicultural competence training.