Characteristics of Latino mental health clinicians : A preliminary examination

The purpose of this study was to explore a variety of characteristics of experienced Latino psychotherapists in an attempt to clarify elements of cultural competence. The sixty five subjects were from a sample of convenience recruited from mental health agencies serving predominantly Latino clients in the San Francisco Bay area. The first part of the study consisted of two focus groups with Latino clinicians to discuss culturally competent services and to generate ideas to inform a preliminary questionnaire. The second part consisted of administering the questionnaire to the sample. Results were mixed, revealing a combination of responses indicating clinical interventions based upon universally accepted principles, and those uniquely used with Latino clients which were more clearly associated with the cultural traits of Latinos.