title: Practicing what we know: Multicultural counseling competence among clinical psychology trainees and experienced multicultural psychologists.
abstract: Multicultural (MC) competence is considered a necessary skill for clinical and counseling psychologists; however, there is little to no research on the assessment of demonstrated multicultural counseling competence (DMCCC) of clinical psychology graduate students. In this study, we developed a MC assessment instrument to assess DMCCC of clinical psychology graduate students compared with MC-experienced psychologists. In addition, we assessed for differences between the endorsement of MC-appropriate strategies and actual use of these strategies in clinical practice, both by MC-experienced psychologists and clinical psychology students. Results revealed significant differences between the DMCCC of clinical psychology graduate students and MC-experienced psychologists. Significant differences also emerged between endorsement of strategies as multiculturally appropriate and likelihood of actual use of these strategies. Findings suggest that future training and competence models should incorporate participants' ability to not only identify multiculturally appropriate strategies but also use these strategies in therapy.
authors.affiliation: Counseling and Testing Center, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 443140, Moscow, ID 83844-3140, USA. rsehgal@uidaho.edu
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sehgal
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saules
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gillem
authors.forename: Nina A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Nabors
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jefferson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D004500:Education, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students