African Americans' perception of psychotherapists and the psychotherapy process.

Research suggests that in comparison to European Americans African Americans: are less likely to utilize mental health services; hold more negative expectations and attitudes about the mental health system; more likely to be focused on cultural or racial content in therapy sessions; and, more wary and concerned about therapist cultural competence. The present study used a video review methodology to determine if similar findings would emerge when examining African American and European American students' perceptions of a videotaped psychotherapy interaction. Sixty one African American and 61 European American female undergraduates completed a counseling expectations questionnaire prior to viewing one of two equivalent video versions of an enacted therapy interaction between a female European American therapist and female African American client. The therapist's response in the universal video version focused on issues universal to all people and omitted any reference to race, while the therapist's response in the cultural video version included racial issues raised by the client. Participants completed general evaluations of the therapist and interaction. They then viewed the video a second time, stopping the playback and commenting on whenever they thought a significant event had occurred. Next, participants completed questionnaires to assess their previous experience with psychotherapy and level of ethnic identity development. It was hypothesized that, in comparison to European American participants, African American study participants would: have significantly lower counseling expectations and evaluations of the therapist and interaction; have significantly more racially targeted words in their review commentary; stop the video significantly more times during review of, and give higher ratings to, the therapist in the cultural version; and, stop the video and speak significantly less during the video review. Data analyses provided partial evidence for African American participants having less positive expectations regarding psychotherapy; being more concerned with cultural content; and, being wary of the experimental situation. No evidence was found for African American participants being more concerned with therapist cultural competence. Results are discussed in terms of research and clinical implications.Ph.D.Black studiesClinical psychologyPsychologySocial SciencesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/124723/2/3016796.pd