Hi guys!

Most of us on here come from some kind of Anglo-Saxon culture. (Looks that way to me.) And the question "to hug or not to hug" is a very raw one for us.

But other cultures have very different attutudes to touch.

I imagine that German Ts shake hands with every patient at the beginning and end of each session, because everyone shakes hands with everyone and it would be rude not to. Maybe French Ts kiss their patients on both cheeks? I saw on TV how a recent Carribean immigrant to the UK discovered to her consternation that she was not allowed to hug the postman!

Also, Ts have to challenge their patients and "talk straight", but that might be difficult to do without sounding rude.

I've read that psychotherapy made little headway into Thailand until the practitioners realised just how strong the taboo was against criticising ones parents.

Now here is the question. Should T respect:
a) The patient's culture?
b) Her own culture?
c) The dominant culture of her practice?

Footnote: Do German patients address their Ts as "Herr Doktor"?