Taoist Cognitive Group Therapy: A Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

A concurrent design with exploratory mixed methods was used to examine how Asian Americans with generalized anxiety disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) respond to two forms of treatment, a culturally adapted treatment (Taoist Cognitive Therapy) and non-adapted (Western) evidence-based intervention (Cognitive Behavior Therapy.) Eighteen individuals identified as Asian American with generalized anxiety disorder were divided into two groups and received 10 weekly 90-minute sessions of group therapy. Pre- and post-measures were completed and results indicated a trend towards symptomatic improvements in both groups. Further, the TCT group evidenced greater cognitive flexibility, reported lower somatic symptoms and improvement in interpersonal skills. To understand differences in participants’ experiences of the two treatments, a thematic analysis of the termination interviews was conducted (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Overall, members in both treatment groups described a positive experience and found the treatments to be helpful, easy to understand, and applicable, and their fellow group members to be supportive.