Multicultural Counseling Competence in home -based therapy: A phenomenological study

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the client experience of Multicultural Counseling Competence as it manifests within the relationship between the client and therapist in home-based therapy. This study used qualitative interviews and the method of phenomenology to elicit descriptions from a sample of nine females and one male client participant identifying as ethnically and racially diverse. Each of these individuals was currently receiving mental health therapy in their homes. Themes from the analysis of the client interviews revealed important factors in client experiences of multicultural counseling competence such as (a) the therapist behaviors and characteristics; (b) the client-therapist relationship; (c) the therapist abilities to create comfort and trust for their clients; (d) the acknowledgement of race and cultural differences; and (e) what and how racial and cultural concerns were addressed in therapy. The meanings of client experiences provide implications for the understanding of multicultural counseling competence related to the importance of the role of client needs, the nature of the client-therapist relationship, the non-traditional roles of the therapist, the importance of the client level of trust and comfort with therapists, and the relevant considerations for how race and culture are addressed in therapy. The limitations in the study, recommendations for clinical practice, future directions for research, and my personal comments throughout the process of the study are included