Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-0655-0348

Date of Award

8-31-2026

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Lizabeth Roemer

Second Advisor

Dr. Evan Auguste

Third Advisor

Dr. Brittany Hall-Clark, Dr. Sarah Hayes-Skelton

Abstract

The Multicultural Counseling Competencies (MCC) and Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) are well-researched and supported counseling practices for decreasing microaggressions in therapy and consequent attrition, lack of satisfaction, and maltreatment (Ratts et al., 2016; Sue et al., 1982). However, scholars critique existing methods for measuring therapists’ cultural responsiveness for being disconnected from therapeutic process and outcomes (Hays, 2020; Wilcox et al., 2020). This study examined which MSJCC measures associated with variables clinically and ethically relevant to better treatment outcomes and lower microaggressive, neglectful, and stereotypical treatment for hypothetical Black, female clients by White therapists. 62 White psychologists in training or with clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or social work degrees filled out a survey including case conceptualization of three vignettes about Black, female clients. MSJCC measures included measures of global multicultural competence, colorblind racial ideologies, multicultural training reactance, and stage of White identity development. Clinically relevant variables included assessment habits, case conceptualization, and treatment suggestions, while ethically relevant variables included belief in a just world, social justice attitudes, and inadequate or invasive treatment suggestions.

All MSJCC variables demonstrated unique and complex associations with clinically and ethically relevant variables. This suggests each MSJCC variable is important to gauging therapists’ behavior with Black, female clients and multicultural understanding. I argue that these measures should be used in combination when gauging therapists’ adherence to MSJCC philosophies. This study provides a paradigm that could be applied to other marginalized populations to explore patterns in therapists’ behaviors, attitudes, and self-reports specific to each population.

Comments

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