Pretherapy Expectations and Definitions of Mental Illness Among Minority and Low-Income Patients

Abstract

This study examines pretherapy expectations for psychotherapists and definitions of mental illness among 44 Mexican American and 48 Anglo American outpatients. Patients' expectations for therapist behaviors, expectations for time in therapy, and definitions for concepts of mental illness were measured on three scales. Both Mexican Americans and Anglo Americans were found to primarily expect a therapist who would engage them in active dialogue. Both ethnic groups were also found to expect a long stay in therapy. However, while Mexican Amer icans and Anglo Americans showed similarities in their definitions of "emotional problem," they differed in their definitions for "emotionally disturbed" and "mental illness."