Contextual Assessment and Treatment of Immigrants
Ellyn Kaschak, Ph.D.
San Jose State University
The Contextual Assessment and Treatment Schema has been used for the last
twenty years in psychological and therapeutic work in the United States and Latin
America. It is used in combination with the Mattering Map based in contextual
theory and practice (Kaschak, 1992, 2010). This article discusses its application
with immigrant clients to the North American countries of the United States and
Canada.
Keywords: social construction, schema, mattering map, women, multi-cultural,
immigration, assessment, treatment
The Contextual Assessment and Treatment Schema has been used within
the practice of feminist, cross-cultural and multi-cultural psychotherapies for the
past twenty years (Kaschak, 2010) in a variety of therapeutic contexts in the
United States and Latin America. During this time, the schema itself has
changed and morphed into the current version based on observations and
feedback from users. Like the lives of its users, it continues to be a work in
This schema is designed to be used in conjunction with the broader and
more inclusive concept of the Mattering Map (Kaschak, 1992; 2010; 2012) and in
conjunction with or as a replacement for traditional diagnostic criteria. These
tools allow for complex interaction of multiple variables as they change over time.
Thus, it is multi-dimensional, moves and morphs as it reflects what matters in a
particular circumstance to a particular person or persons. A detailed discussion
of the parameters of the Mattering Map can be found in previous articles by
