The U.S. Surgeon General's report "Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity--A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001) was arguably the best single scholarly contribution on the mental health of ethnic minority groups in the United States. Over 10 years have now elapsed…

Research determines ethnic match, service match, and cognitive match as structural components of cultural competence in psychotherapy. Three independent characteristics involving scientific mindedness, dynamic sizing skills, and culture-specific expertise are suggested as important ingredients of cultural competence. Contains 39 references. (MMU)

Cultural competency guidelines and policies are being widely established. Yet some critics have challenged the evidence for cultural competency and the lack of efficacy studies that demonstrate its outcomes. Various positions are examined that discuss cultural competency research. They include the need for more resources for research, scientific…

Relationships of client demographics and services at mental health centers was studied. Services studied were: diagnosis, programs, personnel, and therapy. Client attributes accounted for small proportions of variance, with ethnicity and age being the most consistent single predictors. (NG)

It is suggested that a time may well come when minority clients receive equal but unresponsive services and that primary attention should be placed upon the delivery of responsive services rather than upon the demonstration of inequities. (Author/AM)

Cultural competency in the delivery of mental health services has gained considerable momentum. This momentum has been accompanied by questions about the meaning, usefulness, and precision of cultural competency. The author argues that cultural competency is composed of general processes (scientific mindedness, dynamic sizing, and culture-specific…

Examines the role of cultural knowledge and culture-specific techniques in the psychotherapeutic treatment of ethnic minority group clients. Recommendations that therapists be culturally sensitive and know the client's culture must be linked to the processes of giving and credibility. (Author/LHW)

In order to provide more responsive counseling services, minority students were trained to function as counselors for other minority individuals. In spite of initial difficulties in developing trust and in defining the goals of the program, the training and utilization of minority-group paraprofessionals are feasible alternatives to current mental…

This study examined the outcome effects of cognitive match between Asian and White outpatient clients and their therapists. Many clinicians believe that one hindrance to the treatment of ethnic minority clients is that therapists and clients may not share common assumptions and attitudes about therapy and about the problems that are presented in…