White Counselors' Exposure to Black Individuals and Their Counseling Effectiveness with Black Clients
Open Access
- Author:
- Zhao, Fanghui
- Graduate Program:
- Counselor Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 22, 2023
- Committee Members:
- Julia Green Bryan, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies
Amber O'Shea, Major Field Member
Kristen Nadermann, Major Field Member
Jeffrey Hayes, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Louis Castonguay, Outside Field Member
David Baker, Outside Unit Member - Keywords:
- Counseling Effectiveness
Counselor Effect
Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competence - Abstract:
- This study examined the relationship between White counselors’ exposure to Black individuals and their counseling effectiveness with Black college clients. This study used three secondary data sets, including the clinical treatment data gathered from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), neighborhood demographic data obtained through Census 2020 data set, and university demographic data reported through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). A sample of 994 African American/ Black college students who sought counseling at a university counseling center between 2015 and 2019 was included in the analyses. These clients were seen by 142 White counselors who worked at 46 university counseling centers. This study used multilevel linear regression, multiple linear regression, and multilevel logistic regression to test Allport’s intergroup contact theory. The results indicated that White counselors did not significantly vary in producing positive treatment outcomes with Black clients. However, living in environments with a lower percentage of Black people, higher racial diversity, and higher levels of anti-Black racism predicted better treatment outcomes for Black college clients who received counseling from White counselors. Moreover, White counselors did differ in retaining Black clients in treatment. However, the percentage of Black individuals in the working and living environments of White counselors, the racial diversity of White counselors’ living environments, and the level of anti- Black racism in the state did not explain White counselors’ differential effectiveness in retaining Black clients in counseling. Limitations and implications were discussed.