Predictors of satisfaction with counseling: Racial and ethnic minority clients' attitudes toward counseling and ratings of their counselors' general and multicultural counseling competence.

Abstract

One hundred twelve college students of color who sought and terminated mental health treatment at their campus counseling center were asked to indicate their (a) attitudes toward counseling, (b) ratings of their counselors' general counseling competence, (c) ratings of their counselors' multicultural competence, and (d) satisfaction with counseling. Results revealed that these students' counseling attitudes and perceptions of their counselors' general and multicultural competence each accounted for significant variance in their satisfaction with counseling. Of particular note was the finding that racial and ethnic minority clients' ratings of their counselors' multicultural counseling competence explained significant variance in satisfaction ratings beyond the variance previously accounted for by their general counseling competence ratings. Moreover, results revealed that clients' ratings of their counselors' multicultural counseling competence partially mediated the relationship between general counseling competence ratings and satisfaction with counseling. Special thanks to the clients, counselors, and clinic personnel who participated in this study. I also thank Tina Arorash for her assistance with this project.

Clients' perceptions of their psychotherapists' multicultural orientation.

“…Thus, if competence is defined as the ability to effectively implement a given psychotherapy approach, this therapist would most likely be rated poorly on a cognitivebehavioral therapy competence measure. Given this delineation between competence and orientation, it is possible that previous studies examining psychotherapists' multicultural competencies (Constantine, 2002;Fuertes et al, 2006;Owen, Leach, Wampold, & Rodolfa, 2011a) were in fact assessing MCO. As such, we contend that the term "multicultural orientation" more accurately captures clients' ratings on cross-cultural counseling inventories, as compared with competency.…”

“…These studies, however, have not examined how clients perceive their psychotherapists' MCO in cross and similar racial/ethnic psychotherapy dyads. For instance, some studies have focused exclusively on REM clients with White therapists (Constantine, 2002(Constantine, , 2007Li & Kim, 2004), whereas others have included White and REM clients who were treated by primarily White therapists (Fuertes & Brobst, 2002). Recently, Fuertes et al (2006) found that cross and similar racial/ethnic dyads reported similar perceptions of their psychotherapists' MCO.…”

“…Psychotherapists' MCO Psychotherapy studies have found that clients' perceptions of their psychotherapists' MCO are positively associated with clients' ratings of working alliance, session quality, psychotherapists' empathy, and general competence (Constantine, 2002(Constantine, , 2007Fuertes & Brobst, 2002;Fuertes et al, 2006;Kim et al, 2002;Li & Kim, 2004). The primary criterion variable in several studies has been clients' satisfaction with services, which has also been positively related to clients' perceptions of their psychotherapists' MCO (Constantine, 2002(Constantine, , 2007Fuertes & Brobst, 2002;Fuertes et al, 2006).…”

“…The primary criterion variable in several studies has been clients' satisfaction with services, which has also been positively related to clients' perceptions of their psychotherapists' MCO (Constantine, 2002(Constantine, , 2007Fuertes & Brobst, 2002;Fuertes et al, 2006). Although satisfaction with services is an important variable, research has shown small correlations between satisfaction and indicators of psychotherapy outcome, such as level of psychological distress (Blais et al, 2002;Lambert, Salzer, & Bickman, 1998;Owen, Rhoades, Fincham, & Stanley, in press).…”

Male Psychology Doctoral Students: The Influence of GRC on Training

“…Findings from certain studies (e.g., Constantine, 2002) reveal a significant connection between the clinician's awareness of privilege and oppression and their general multicultural competency. Hence, this recent line of research suggests that increasing clinician's or trainee's awareness around issues of privilege may assist in the growth of multicultural competencies (Hays, 2008).…”