Abstract

Recent research has explored the unique case load of mental health professionals working in university counseling centers (UCCs) and is working to better understand therapist burnout. However, there is a gap in the literature surrounding therapist caseload composition and how this composition can impact the experience of therapists in UCCs. Specifically, more research is needed to understand how therapist caseloads might differ by gender identity of therapist. The current study explored this topic by looking at how therapist caseload varies by gender. Retrospective data gathered at a large western United States UCC from 2014 to 2021 was analyzed using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM). There were 17 client variables (anxiety, social anxiety, academic concerns, eating concerns, hostility, substance use, family concerns, distress, OQ-45 score, distress around confusion about religious beliefs, distress around discrimination, perfectionism, distress around sexual orientation, suicidal intent, suicide attempts, sexual assault, and trauma) that were regressed on therapist gender. The results of the HLM model indicated significant differences between therapist gender and caseload composition. Of the 17 variables, seven estimated significant variances. The model indicated that cisgender female-identifying therapists were estimated to have clients with significantly higher scores on anxiety, eating concerns, distress, perfectionism, sexual assault, and trauma. While cisgender male-identifying therapists were estimated to only have clients with significantly higher scores on distress around sexual orientation. This study showed that differences in caseload composition are a concern that should be addressed in university counseling centers, as they differentially impact male and female therapists. These findings add to the literature surrounding the increased load on university counseling centers and give further insight into the experiences of female clinicians in this setting.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/