Abstract
The poor, the working-class, or the minority person who needs psychotherapy is characteristically underserved by mental health establishments, which are primarily geared to the needs of middle- or upper-class and nonminority patients (Acosta, 1977; Sue, 1977; Yamamoto, James, & Palley, 1968). Therapists who make up the mental health establishments often lack the knowledge necessary to work effectively with minority populations and subgroups (President’s Commission on Mental Health, 1978). Given this lack of knowledge and the existence of racism in the United States, it is not surprising that many mental health professionals have prejudicial attitudes to-ward minority groups, which can be manifested either in outright rejection or in the provision of less intensive, less interested, unenthusiastic care (Lorion, 1974). These patients will continue to be underserved until mental health professionals become better trained to deal with the unique problems of these patients more effectively.
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Acosta, F.X., Yamamoto, J., Evans, L.A., Wilcox, S.A. (1982). Effective Psychotherapy for Low-Income and Minority Patients. In: Effective Psychotherapy for Low-Income and Minority Patients. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2166-6_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2166-6_1
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