Multicultural Office Design: A Case Example

The psychology and counseling literature contains numerous discussions of the need for psychotherapists to be culturally sensitive, including descriptions of the requisite skills and behaviors that affect the therapeutic alliance. In addition, a number of articles on diversity mention the need for multiculturally friendly offices and list some general guidelines. However, the literature contains no research, or even detailed guidelines, on the critical physical elements to consider in designing a multiculturally friendly office. This article describes the multicultural design process and specific physical design criteria that were developed and implemented in a not-for-profit mental health clinic. Examples are provided of specific opportunities for improvement identified and how these were implemented. It is suggested that future research focus on identifying the specific physical elements that are critical in creating a multiculturally friendly psychotherapy office, and the relationship of these elements to psychotherapy outcomes.