Exploring Clinicians Attitudes Toward the Incorporation of Racial Socialization in Psychotherapy

Abstract

Racial socialization has been found to have a positive impact on the lives of African Americans. While most studies have focused on parental and caretaker racial socialization, none have examined this process in the context of the mental health practitioner-client relationship. Mental health practitioners may also serve as a socializing agent, providing African American clients with messages regarding race and racial barriers. The present exploratory study examined whether racial socialization messages are being incorporated in individual therapy by mental health practitioners who work with African American clients. Participants were 136 mental health providers solicited via electronic mailing lists from various divisions of the American Psychological Association, college counseling centers, and regional associations. Participants completed a survey on-line. Results indicated ethnicity was linked to the report of racial socialization focused on spiritual coping messages. Results also suggested an interaction between the ethnicity of the clinician and the age group of their clientele when examining messages focused on color-blind ideology.