Cultural Difference and the Therapeutic Alliance: An Evidence-Based Analysis

• Published in: The American psychologist 2007-11, Vol.62 (8), p.878-885
• Main Author: Vasquez, Melba J. T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Awards and Prizes; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical Research - methods; Continental Population Groups - psychology; Counseling Techniques; Counselling; Counselor Client Relationship; Cross Cultural Counseling; Cultural Differences; Cultural Diversity; Cultural Influences; Cultural Pluralism; Cultural Relevance; Employment; Ethnic Groups - psychology; Ethnic minorities; Evidence-Based Medicine - history; Evidence-Based Medicine - methods; Female; General aspects; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Human; Humans; Medical sciences; Minority Groups; Minority Groups - psychology; Multiculturalism; Outcomes of Treatment; Prejudice; Psychological Studies; Psychologists; Psychology; Psychology, Social - methods; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapeutic Processes; Psychotherapists; Psychotherapy; Psychotherapy - history; Psychotherapy - methods; Racial and Ethnic Attitudes; Social Attitudes; Social Bias; Social psychology; Texas; Therapeutic Alliance; Therapist Attitudes; Vasquez
• ISSN: 0003-066X; 1935-990X
• DOI: 10.1037/0003-066X.62.8.878

The research on positive psychotherapy outcome consistently indicates that the quality of the alliance is important across different models of psychotherapy ( D. E. Orlinsky, M. H. Ronnestad, & U. Willutzki, 2004 ; B. E. Wampold, 2000 ). Social psychological research has documented how "unintentional bias" can produce barriers to university admissions, employment, and advancement of well-qualified members of ethnic minority groups ( J. F. Dovidio, S. L. Gaertner, K. Kawakami, & G. Hodson, 2002 ). Neuroscience is further confirming social psychological responses associated with race ( J. L. Eberhard, 2005 ). Unintentional bias identified in social psychological research may be part of the psychotherapist/client interaction, interfere with the therapeutic alliance, and partly account for the high dropout rates and underutilization of psychotherapeutic services by people of color. The purpose of this article is to provide an evidence-based analysis of how psychologists in practice may unintentionally interfere with development of quality alliances with culturally different clients or patients and thus contribute to the barriers to effective multicultural counseling and psychotherapy. Principles from the American Psychological Association's (2003) multicultural guidelines and a review of relevant research are applied in suggesting strategies to reduce bias and to develop culturally appropriate skills in psychological practices.