Prof. Farooq Naeem

Culture & Cognitive Therapy

Biography

Farooq Naeem is a full Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health. Farooq pioneered techniques for culturally adapting CBT. These techniques have been used to adapt CBT in South Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, Kenya and China. Currently, this methodology is being used to adapt and test CBT in Canada in a multicenter study. More than 30 RCTs have been conducted on adapted CBT using Farooq’s model of adaption- Southampton adaptation framework for CBT. His significant contribution to implementation science is establishing a national organization to train and accredit CBT therapists, deliver therapy, promote research and educate the general public- the Pakistan Association of Cognitive Therapists (https://pact.com.pk/). This remains the only example of the national implementation of CBT in a low-income country. He also works in various think tanks with the Mental health commission and Health Canada.

Abstract

Evidence-based therapies, for example, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), are recommended for various emotional and mental health problems. However, it has been suggested that Western cultural values underpin CBT, and for them to be effective for clients from diverse backgrounds, they should be culturally adapted. The literature describing guidance for cognitive therapists is limited. Our group has culturally adapted CBT in our previous work in England, Pakistan, the Middle East, China, Canada and Morocco, for problems, ranging from common to severe mental health problems. This work highlighted the need to gather information to increase awareness of cultural, spiritual and systematic factors to inform assessment and engagement, which are the major barriers to delivering therapy to this group. We have conducted nearly 30 RCTs to test this method with positive outcomes. Similarly, we culturally adapted ACT for South Asian clients in Canada. This talk will focus on historical perspectives on cultural differences and will give a short introduction to the Southampton adaptation framework