International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 19: 131-141, 1996. @ 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. Counselling the Micronesian client MAHMOUD A. SALEH University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96921, U.S.A. Abstract. The Micronesianclient comes from a strategically importantWestern Pacific area that bears its own unique culture. To serve the Micronesian client more than adequately, the thera- pist needs an awareness and understanding of the culture of the Micronesians. The role their culture plays upon the development of the Micronesian and upon the psyche of the Micronesian is explored. Micronesia consists of a group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean, on the Pacific Rim. The history and culture of the islands of Micronesia have had, and continue to have, a strong impact on the therapeutic relationship. For the past five hundred years, Micronesia has undergone invasions by foreign powers who have sought to impose their own culture over that of the Micronesians. Those who want to deliver therapeutic services to Micronesia need to be aware of the history and culture of these Pacific peoples. Current social and cultural challenges to the people of Micronesia can be attributed, in large measure, to their history of foreign occupation and to the history their people have experienced under the domination of the federal government of the United States. Since the first European visited Micronesia in 1521 (Sanchez, 1990), there has been a history of conflict of cultures between the Micronesians and the invaders. Throughout history, from the moment foreign invaders stepped on any Micronesian shore, attitudes of supe- riority and lack of understanding have prevailed among the invaders along with their goal of changing the people to adapt to the conquerors' own cultures. Foreign powers have always been attracted to the islands of Micronesia due to their strategic location. Over the last four hundred years, a number of world powers have sought domain over these islands. Among those occu- piers were Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States. These countries have historically contributed to a history that can be characterized as military defeat, religious indoctrination, ethnic demoralization, civil occupation and forced displacement. The world powers, particularly the United States and the Far East, continue to contribute to the cultural conflict permeating modern-day Micronesia. Some of the products of the resultant cultural conflict include: (1) displacement from land through appropriation; (2) family dissolution; (3) breakdown of tradi-