DIGEST - Volume 8, Issue 4-FULL

5 TPC Digest 5 | TPC Digest Multicultural Competence and the Working Alliance as Predictors of Client Outcomes Jessica Gonzalez, Sejal M. Barden, Julia Sharp T he past three decades of counseling research have identified the therapeutic relationship between clients and counselors as the most important predictor of change in counseling for clients; however, there is limited research on the associations between the therapeutic relationship and counselors’ multicultural competence. Specifically, more research is needed exploring the influence of multicultural competence as perceived by both client and counselors-in-training (CITs) on counseling outcomes. To investigate this shortcoming, we explored the relationship between CITs’ multicultural competence and the therapeutic relationship on client counseling outcomes from both client and CIT perspectives. In addition, another factor we explored in this study was social desirability, as previous research has shown that clients and counselors may respond in a socially desirable way on self-report assessments. The study took place at a university community counseling research center. There were 72 CITs and 119 clients who participated. Clients filled the Outcome Quatrionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2), an assessment measuring their distress level, at their first and third counseling sessions. To measure client change, researchers compared the first and third session OQ-45.2 scores. Both clients and counselors filled out assessments on the therapeutic relationship, CITs’ cultural competency, and social desirability at the end of the third session. To explore the perspectives between clients and CITs, linear model analysis was used. Linear modeling results indicated significant differences between client and CIT perceptions of the therapeutic relationship and CITs’ multicultural competence, after controlling for social desirability. Clients rated their CITs’ multicultural competence and the therapeutic relationship higher than CITs. Given the differences in perceptions, counselors are encouraged to self-reflect on their own perspectives and explore their clients’ perceptions of the therapeutic relationship and multicultural competence at various points in counseling. Next, to explore our research question of whether CITs’ multicultural competence and the therapeutic relationship predict counseling outcomes, while controlling for social desirability, two hierarchical regressions were used. Hierarchical regression results indicated that clients’ perspective of their CITs’ multicultural competence and the therapeutic relationship did not predict client outcomes, although CITs’ perceptions of their multicultural competence modestly predicted client outcomes, after controlling for counselors’ social desirability scores. Given the results from the hierarchical regression and the positive relationship between CITs’ social desirability responses and their responses on the multicultural competence assessment, counselor educators who supervise CITs are encouraged to explore their supervisees’ expectations and comfort in discussing developing multicultural competence. Moreover, because results indicated that close to 80% of the variance in posttest scores were accounted for by OQ 45.2 first session scores on client outcomes, counselors are encouraged to explore what coping strategies clients are already using that have been helpful with their clients presenting issues during the first session. Lastly, in future research studies, counselors educators can consider that week three in counseling may not be enough time to show how the therapeutic relationship and CITs’ multicultural competence might influence client outcomes. Jessica Gonzalez is an assistant professor at Colorado State University. Sejal M. Barden is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida. Julia Sharp is an associate professor at Colorado State University. Correspondence can be addressed to Jessica Gonzalez, 1588 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1588, jessica.gonzalez2@colostate.edu.