How do graduate student therapists incorporate diversity factors in case conceptualization?

Abstract

Researchers interviewed 17 psychotherapists in training in an analogue study of psychotherapists' use of broadly defined diversity factors in conceptualizing clients and cases. Each therapist watched two 5-minute staged videotapes of clients who varied along dimensions of race and ethnicity, age, and gender. Each acting client described problems in an initial psychotherapy interview, and then participant therapists responded to questions. Participants demonstrated varying levels of multicultural competence. Many exhibited knowledge in the areas of culture-specific values, and family and gender roles; awareness of their own cultural background and its effects on the therapeutic relationship; and skills in treatment planning, including assessment of levels of acculturation and culturally appropriate treatment methods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

Integrating diversity into therapy processes: The role of individual and cultural diversity competences in promoting equality of care

“…In addition, White (heterosexual/lesbian, Christian) clients were rarely perceived as cultural. There were also difficulties among clinicians in perceiving themselves as cultural beings and exploring their impact on particular clients different from themselves in an array of identity dimensions, as already encountered by Neufeldt et al (2006) and Haugh (2016). Finally, individual and cultural diversity in the clinical relationship was perceived more as a difficulty or barrier to psychological care than a resource or rich context for the exploration of meaning and coping strategies.…”

“…The interview protocol was developed based on previous work by Neufeldt et al (2006) and is presented in Table I. Clinicians were asked openended questions after the video presentation concerning the following topics: (i) case conceptualisation; (ii) possible intervention objectives and strategies; (iiii) identification of significant client characteristics; (iv) identification of significant self/ clinician characteristics; and (v) supervision needs. A final section addressed individual and cultural diversity directly; participants were asked how they integrated individual and cultural diversity in their psychological practice.…”

Saúde na diversidade: Desenvolvimento de serviços de saúde mental sensíveis à cultura

“…A forma como se adequam intervenções e como se formam profissionais para serem culturalmente sensíveis nas suas intervenções, essas sim, continuam a ser tarefas desafiantes -principalmente quando falamos de saúde mental e bem-estar psicoló-gico, conceitos pouco usuais em algumas culturas ou revestidos de forte estigma (e.g., culturas Asiáticas em Sue & Sue, 1999; comunidades Africanas em Moleiro, Silva, Rodrigues, & Borges, 2009). Vários autores têm discutido a formação de competências multiculturais em psicoterapia e aconselhamento, e a forma como essa formação é traduzida em conceptualizações de casos clínicos e/ou planeamento de intervenções individuais ou grupais (e.g., Neufeldt et al, 2006). Apesar de alguns avanços, muito se encontra por desenvolver em termos de investimento em serviços e profissionais mais sensíveis à cultura.…”

Muslim faith healers' views on substance misuse and psychosis

“…However, in practice, the vignette acted as a useful starting point for a more open discussion of individuals they had experience of. A comparable study with Catholic priests (Hepworth, Simonds, & Marsh, 2009) also used vignettes to obtain data for grounded theory analysis as well as previous studies (e.g., Burman et al, 2002;Neufeldt et al, 2006;Taylor, 2006). The vignettes did not state explicitly that the individuals described were diagnosed with psychosis or a substance misuse disorder; instead participants were given the opportunity to construct their own narratives regarding the origin of the disorder.…”