"What Do I Say Now?": Using a Multicultural Deliberate Practice Workshop to Improve Mental Health Providers' Responses to Microaggressions

• Published in: Training and education in professional psychology 2024-08, Vol.18 (3), p.256-264
• Main Authors: Miu, Adriana S., Howe-Martin, Laura S., Palomin, Amanda A., Mercado, Alfonso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiracism; Cultural Competence; Female; Human; Humility; Male; Mental Health Personnel; Microaggression; Multiculturalism; Practice; Training
• ISSN: 1931-3918; 1931-3926
• DOI: 10.1037/tep0000453

Cultural incompetence and avoidance of important cultural dialogs among mental health care providers are associated with premature termination in therapy (J. Owen et al., 2017) and worse treatment outcomes (Owen et al., 2016). This study examined the effectiveness of a virtual multicultural deliberate practice workshop on learners' self-rated perceptions of cultural competence. In this study, we compared pre- and postscores on self-perceived cultural humility and competence after participants (n = 115) attended a virtual multicultural deliberate practice training workshop. We found no significant differences in perceived cultural humility or perceived ability to seize cultural opportunities after the training. Instead, we found a significant increase in perceived ability to address microaggressions after the training, suggesting that the workshop increased learners' competence at addressing client microaggression(s). These findings provide important implications for training current and future health service psychologist on practical methods for engaging in antiracist clinical work. Public Significance Statement This study indicates that a virtual multicultural deliberate practice training can effectively increase learners' competence at addressing microaggressions. Findings highlight the importance of providing specific skills training as part of antiracism efforts, beyond training on awareness and knowledge of cultural diversity. By training all health service psychologists and trainees, the mental health workforce can effectively work with clients of different cultural backgrounds and reduce racial disparities in mental health care.