Multicultural training in graduate psychology programs: Impacts and implications
Given the increasing diversity of this country, the likelihood that mental health professionals will see more culturally diverse individuals in treatment settings of all kinds also increases daily. This demographic fact, in addition to increased discussion about the importance of considering multicu...
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| Format: | Dissertation |
| Language: | English |
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ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
01-01-1997
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| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Given the increasing diversity of this country, the likelihood that mental health professionals will see more culturally diverse individuals in treatment settings of all kinds also increases daily. This demographic fact, in addition to increased discussion about the importance of considering multicultural factors in the type of treatment provided, has led some to consider multiculturalism the "fourth force in counseling" (Pedersen, 19901 p. 93). This study involved examining the effectiveness of a 16-week multicultural training course that took place in a midwestern clinical psychology graduate program. The course was designed to increase trainees' awareness of and sensitivity to their own personal cultural background, their attitudes and values concerning issues of diversity, and the impact of culture on individuals, groups and societies. It was additionally intended to introduce students to issues concerning cross-cultural communication, worldview differences and dominant versus non-dominant status and generally to encourage self-exploration and appreciation of diversity. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized in evaluating the success of the training at meeting stated objectives. Quantitative data indicated that the multicultural training had a significant effect on part of the stated objectives. They indicated that the trainees developed a significantly greater knowledge of multicultural issues and a greater awareness of the importance of their own racial identity and sexual orientation and of their attitudes, perceptions and feelings as they relate to people of other races, religions and ethnic backgrounds, all in comparison to a matched control group. Semi-structured follow-up interviews with trainees and faculty, respectively, shed further light on the effectiveness of the training course and particularly on considering individual identity development in the conceptualization, implementation and evaluation of multicultural training. Conclusions were drawn with regard to the importance of developing clear and precise training objectives and with utilizing and/or creating evaluation materials that are specific to the training. Recommendations were offered pertaining to certain aspects of multicultural training such as training size and format, helpful and unhelpful instructor characteristics, trainees' need to feel a sense of safety in sharing personal feelings and beliefs, and the problems with providing such a training in isolation and/or without institutional support. |
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| ISBN: | 9780591589474 0591589478 |