Date of Award

Summer 8-2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Counseling & Human Services

Program/Concentration

Counselor Education and Supervision

Committee Director

Jeff Moe

Committee Member

Garrett McAuliffe

Committee Member

Judith Dunkerly-Bean

Abstract

A key component of professional orientation in the field of mental health is the ability to provide counseling that is culturally competent. Counselor preparatory education, ethical codes, professional organizations and regulating bodies recognize cultural competence as a cornerstone of clinical practice. It is especially important during a time in which cultural and racial minorities combat a tumultuous sociopolitical climate. American society has seen an exponential rise in anxiety, depression, and helplessness secondary to the 2016 Presidential Election. For minority counselors, providing multiculturally competent counseling in the face of extreme oppression, and during a period of apparent resurgence in overt systemic injustices, may prove daunting. This dissertation examined how the current sociopolitical climate has affected minority counselors’ ability to deliver culturally competent counseling via a phenomenological examination of their lived experiences. Descriptive narratives of eight minority clinical mental health counselors from geographically and culturally diverse areas were captured and thematized. Findings of this dissertation study indicated five (4) key themes: impact and importance of minority membership on identity, increase in awareness, atmosphere created by the current administration, and educational and training needs. Clinical implications, educational considerations, and future directions for research are discussed.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/2e69-4571

ISBN

9798678110220

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