Storytelling through pictures: Culturally sensitive psychotherapy for Hispanic children and adolescents

Abstract
Examined treatment effects with Hispanic children and adolescents using a culturally sensitive storytelling intervention. Inner-city 9- 13-year-olds (N = 90) were screened for symptomatc7bgy by structured interview, randomly assigned to an 8-week intervention or attention-control group, and pre- and posttested with standardized instruments measuring anxiety, depression, and phobic symptomatology and school conduct. No treatment differences in depression were found. Differences in favor of storytelling were found on the remaining outcomes, most consistently among 11- to 13-year-olds. Results are discussed in t e r n of programmatic research on culturally sensitive modalities for specific age groups and in support of the broader role of narrative processes in psychotherapy.