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.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Smith, Timothy B.; Soto, Alberto; Griner, Derek; Domenech Rodriguez, Melanie; and Bernal, Guillermo, "Cultural Adaptations and Therapist Multicultural Competence: Two Meta-analytic Reviews" (2018). Faculty Publications. 3152.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/3152
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