Keywords

multicultural competencies, cultural adaptations, multicultural psychotherapy, meta-analysis, treatment adaptations

Abstract

Mental health treatments can be more effective when they align with the culture of the client and when therapists demonstrate multicultural competence. After providing a brief clinical example of cultural adaptations and therapist multicultural competence, we summarize relevant research findings in two meta-analyses. In the meta-analysis on the effectiveness of culturally adapted interventions, the average effect size across 99 studies was d = .50 (.35 after accounting for publication bias). In the second meta-analysis on 15 studies of therapist cultural competence, the results differed by rating source: Client-rated measures of therapist cultural competence correlated strongly (r = .38) with treatment outcomes but therapists’ self-rated competency did not (r = .06). We describe patient considerations and limitations of the research. We conclude with research-supported therapeutic practices that help clients benefit from cultural adaptations and from therapists they perceive as culturally competent.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2018

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5964

Language

English

College

David O. McKay School of Education

Department

Counseling Psychology and Special Education

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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