I appreciate your sharing your perspective and experience. I don't think I am really saying anything that is that controversial but it sorta feels that way here.

About rigid rules and boundaries, let's take the example of the Latino population that was in the study. Gift giving is often taught as something that you just don't accept, like touch and other things. But to refuse a gift, especially like homemade food, is a great insult.

So that "rule" and "boundary" had to be modified and really discarded in order to accept the people as they were, how they felt, what their values were. Other modifications such as sitting closer, using a combination of Spanish and English in an appropriate way, touch, self-disclosure, transparency--all those things evolved from work with this particular group.

What would have happened if the therapist just maintained the rules and boundaries? Wouldn't that be ignoring the client? Wouldn't that be kinda of selfish and unaware? Not culturally or subjectively sensitive?