The Experiences of Couple/Marriage and Family Therapists of color: A Survey Analysis

• Published in: Journal of marital and family therapy Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 3 - 20
• Main Authors: Erolin, Kara S., Wieling, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2021
• Subjects: American dollar; Black students; Clinical training; Cultural sensitivity; Culture; Curricula; Educational Environment; Educational programs; Emic and etic; Ethnic groups; Ethnicity; Family therapists; Family therapy; Feminism; Graduate students; Instructional design; Learning; Literature reviews; Marriage; Mental health; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority groups; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Polls & surveys; Population; Professional training; Race; Race relations; Racism; Social justice; Sociopolitical factors; Therapists; Therapy; Training; United States > US
• ISSN: 0194-472X; 1752-0606
• DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12456

The family therapy literature documenting the experiences of couple/marriage and family therapists (C/MFTs) of color as a group is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of C/MFTs of color in their clinical training programs, clinical work, and related areas of professional challenges and opportunities. Participants (N = 113) completed a one‐time, anonymous electronic survey on SurveyMonkey consisting of demographic questions, closed‐ and open‐ended questions about their experiences. Key findings are reported related to C/MFTs of color experiences in training programs, areas of professional need, and working with racial and/or ethnic minority clients. These findings shed light on how social justice principles and practices upheld in our field are experienced from the emic perspectives of C/MFTs of color. These voices help to broaden our understanding of how we might move forward in advocating for and advancing a more culturally responsive agenda within our profession.