Multicultural competence and evidence‐based practice in group therapy

Abstract

The multicultural competence (MC) and evidence-based practice (EBP) initiatives have each generated healthy debates in the mental health field, with ample implications for clinical training and practice. Using two case illustrations, we highlight practical challenges and prospects in the intersection of MC and EBP. To facilitate complementary practice of MC and EBP, we offer strategies for the group therapist as a "local clinical scientist" to deliver culturally responsive treatments. We stress the importance of cultural adaptation of EBP models, namely, modifying evidence-based interventions that involve changes in service delivery, in the nature of the therapeutic relationship, or in components of the treatment itself to accommodate the cultural beliefs and behaviors of racial-cultural minority clients. Cultural adaptation of EBP in group therapy needs to be grounded in developmental contextualism and social justice. We discuss the two cases with an eye toward advancing multicultural competence in group therapy.

Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies: Guidelines for the Counseling Profession

“…Much of this scholarship has examined the previous MCC in various areas of counselor practice. Scholarship on the role of social justice in counseling has increased over the past decade (Chen, Kakkad, & Balzano, 2008;Pieterse, Evans, Risner-Butner, Collins, & Mason, 2009;Worthington, Soth-McNett, & Moreno, 2007). Because the current MSJCC more explicitly denote the connection between multiculturalism and social justice, future counseling research can seek to further bridge multicultural and social justice competence scholarship.…”

“just one of the guys”: A qualitative study of gay men’s experiences in mixed sexual orientation men’s groups.

“…Past research on heterogeneous groups has tended to focus on racial/ ethnic rather than sexual minorities (Anderson, 2007;Chen, Kakkad, & Balzano, 2008). Anderson (2007) noted that diverse groups are especially prone to tensions and struggles for control, urging future qualitative studies on power dynamics within such groups.…”

Introduction to a special issue on clinician–researchers: a career engaged in both therapy research and practice

“…For most of them, "moving towards the center" is most saliently connected to the idea of practice-based evidence or "being local clinical scientists" as they learn to gather data during the therapy process to determine if and how their interventions are helping (Barlow et al, 2015;Chen, Kakkad, & Balzano, 2008). Castonguay and colleagues (2010) wrote,…”