Serving the Amish is a targeted guide for professionals who care for or interact with Plain people: doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers, judges, social workers, psychotherapists, and addiction counselors, among others. For these professionals, knowing the 'what' of Amish life is not enough. They must go deeper, understanding the 'why'the ideologies that both drive and bind this community in a system of beliefs that seems alien to those who embrace the technological and social turbulence of the twenty-first century. James A. Cates draws heavily on his experiences as a clinical psychologist in private practice in northeastern Indiana, a region that is home to over 35,000 Amish people. He combines anecdotal evidence and first-person narrative to shed light on the social, emotional, and psychological foundations of Amish life to help professionals interact competently and build rapport with Amish clients. He also explains the unique challenges outsiders face in offering aid to a people whose lifestyle and rules dictate a distance from all things worldly. This practical book balances evidence-based principles of care with an emphasis on reducing anxiety and establishing warm relationships. From the police officer dispersing a party full of Amish Youngie to the social worker staffing a child protective services hotline, professionals who work with the Amish will benefit from this one-of-a-kind guide.
Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Culture and Context 1. Strangers and Pilgrims Part II: Life Experience 2. Changing Views of Human Services 3. Building and Maintaing Rapport 4. Across the Life Span 5. Women's Issues 6. Sexuality 7. Violence and Abuse 8. Death and Loss Part III: Professional Interaction 9. Counseling and Psychotherapy 10. Substance Abuse and Addictions 11. Law Enforcement and the Judiciary 12. Healthcare Professions 13. Social Work and Social Services Part IV: Practical Considerations 14. Guidelines for Service to the Amish Epilogue Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Notes Bibliography Index
""James A. Cates's Serving the Amish: A Cultural Guide for Professionals delivers a useful tool for practitioners interacting with Amish communities as well as a notable contribution to the field of Amish and Anabaptist studies... Rarely do we see cultural guides that reflect such depth of experience in the community, length of treatment that allows for sufficient detail, and writing that conveys clear respect for the breadth of scholarly literature on a given group. Serving the Amish raises the bar for a form of cultural competency writing that may be embraced by social scientists and practitioners alike.""
