Category: Oppression and Resilience Minority Health
Rebecca Browne, M.S.
Suffolk University
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Jessica Graham-LoPresti, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Suffolk University
Andover, Massachusetts
Rebecca Browne, M.S.
Suffolk University
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Linsey Mathew, M.S.
Suffolk University
Boston, Massachusetts
Anna Larson, PhD
Suffolk University
Boston, Massachusetts
Tsotso Ablorh, M.A.
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, and other types of mass trauma have been associated with increased psychological distress and mental health concerns (Esterwood & Saeed, 2020). Although individuals from minoritized populations, including BIPOC and gender and sexual minoritized individuals experience mental health concerns at similar or greater rates than individuals from non-minoritized groups, they are less likely to seek and/or receive mental health care (Dobalian & Rivers, 2008; King et al., 2008). A growing body of research has identified several barriers to seeking and receiving treatment that disproportionally impact minoritized individuals including structural barriers, such as proximal access to mental health care providers, perceptual barriers, such as stigma associated with treatment, and clinician related barriers such as a lack of culturally representative or concern for therapists cultural competency (Cook et al., 2019; Owen et al., 2017, Roberts & Fantz, 2014).
While structural and stigma related barriers to help-seeking are well documented, less is known about other factors that relate to help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, particularly among minoritized individuals. Minoritized individuals who are willing and able to seek care may experience cultural incompetence and a lack of understanding from their therapists, which can rupture the relationship, limit disclosure, and negatively impact future help-seeking behaviors (Holley et al., 2016; Cronin, 2017). Taken together, these findings suggest the need for further research aimed at identifying behaviors and interventions that appropriately address the lived experiences of minoritized individuals.
Thus, this symposium addresses individual aspects associated with help-seeking behaviors among diverse populations as well as therapist attitudes and behaviors associated with developing strong, trusting relationships with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Understanding factors associated with help-seeking attitudes and behaviors may help address barriers to seeking and receiving professional psychological help. Furthermore, identifying therapists’ attitudes and behaviors that promote a strong therapeutic alliance and client retention will allow the field to move towards better meeting the needs of minoritized groups generally and in the context of mass trauma.
Learning Objectives:
Present on the differential associations between elements of self-compassion on help-seeking attitudes and behaviors among BIPOC individuals.
Discuss the role of cultural orientation and generation status on psychological help seeking in a sample of Asian and Asian American college students.
Explore relationships between stigma consciousness and attitudes towards mental healthcare providers among gender and sexual minoritized adults.
Present the theoretical context for therapist interventions that acknowledge racial stereotyping and associations with the therapeutic alliance and client retention.
Presenter: Rebecca Browne, M.S. – Suffolk University
Co-author: Sarah Schwartz, Ph.D. – Suffolk University
Presenter: Linsey R. Mathew, M.S. – Suffolk University
Co-author: Rebecca Browne, M.S. – Suffolk University
Co-author: Laura Austin, M.S. – Suffolk University
Co-author: Sarah Schwartz, Ph.D. – Suffolk University
Co-author: Jessica loPresti, Ph.D. – Suffolk University
Presenter: Anna Larson, PhD – Suffolk University
Co-author: Sarah Schwartz, Ph.D. – Suffolk University
Presenter: Tsotso Ablorh, M.A. – University of Massachusetts Boston