Kw. Allison et al., PREDICTING CULTURAL COMPETENCE - IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND TRAINING, Professional psychology, research and practice, 27(4), 1996, pp. 386-393
Training and work experience with clients from diverse groups were exa
mined among 266 recent PhDs in counseling and clinical psychology Surv
eys were mailed to 600 participants who completed their graduate work
between 1985 and 1987. Analyses examined which training variables pred
icted self-rated competence in providing services to various cultural
groups. Results indicated that most therapists reported competence in
working with diverse clients, but there was notable variability among
ratings of therapists' self-perceived competence with different client
groups. Exposure during training to working with clients from specifi
c cultural groups was important in predicting therapists' current perc
eived competence. Most respondents reported accessing education and tr
aining experiences in providing services to diverse client groups. A s
mall but troubling number of respondents reported seeing clients despi
te reporting low levels of competence with that client group.