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The relationship between working alliance, cross-cultural counseling competency, referral sources, and racial identity attitudes: Psychotherapy with African-American males
Abstract
A substantial body of literature has indicated that African American males are at high risk of experiencing psychological disturbances. Although the literature provides cultural sensitivity strategies for establishing effective therapeutic relationships with African American male clients, notably absent are empirical data specifically focusing on variables related to psychotherapy. The present two studies examined the relationship between referral sources, working alliance, racial identity attitudes, and cross-cultural counseling strategies in samples of African American male therapy clients and psychotherapists. In Study One, it was found that ratings of therapeutic working alliance did not differ among African American male clients who were mandated to attend therapy and those who attended voluntarily; both groups of clients reported strong working alliance with their therapist. Non-mandatory clients were more likely to have been in therapy before and had attended more current therapy sessions than were mandated clients. Furthermore, clients reported strong preferences to work with a cross-culturally competent therapist. These preferences were significantly related to the clients' racial identity attitudes. More specifically, living in suburban areas, being willing to see a therapist in the future, and having lower Preencounter and Immersion/Emersion racial identity attitude ratings were most predictive of clients' preferences for a cross-culturally competent therapist. The therapists in Study Two also provided high working alliance ratings with their most recent African American male client. Furthermore, the therapists self-reported high levels of cross-cultural counseling competency. Contrary to prediction, however, a relationship between working alliance and cross-cultural counseling competency was not found. Multiple regression analyses revealed that having seen more clients in therapy and not including family in therapy were the best predictors of therapists' working alliance ratings. Overall, these findings provide limited support for the use of cross-cultural counseling strategies when working with African American male clients. Several limitations and implications for the treatment of African American male clients and for the training of therapists and counselors are discussed.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology|Black studies|African American Studies
Recommended Citation
Thorn, George Ray, "The relationship between working alliance, cross-cultural counseling competency, referral sources, and racial identity attitudes: Psychotherapy with African-American males" (1996). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9703792.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9703792