Empathy should also be an emphasis for training psychologists and the ability to be curious and open-minded. Without this, negative attitudes, biases, and prejudice thinking will interfere with the quality of one’s practice, theory, and research. 

Treating Minorities: Emphasize Humanity

- Minority students in psychology should be given the opportunity to converse with minority professional psychologists.
- Psychology students should be taught the importance of being able to implement a cultural adaptation of therapy. 
- Psychology students should be taught to understand ethnic problems and treatment and, at the same time, remain curious and open. 

Skidmore College

- Good clinical services are mostly not available.
- Black patients are mostly offered custodial care and medication, while white patients are more likely to be offered psychotherapy. 
- Latin/Hispanic and Asian patients are not assigned to more intensive therapy but rather supportive therapy. 

Minority Patient Challenges

Korchin S. J. (1980). Clinical psychology and minority problems. The American psychologist, 35(3), 262–269. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.35.3.262

Clinical psychology and minority problems. The American psychologist

Minority patients are discharged from therapy more rapidly than white patients and often face stigma as well as caution from therapists and health care professionals. 

Minority Patient Discharge Rates

Institutions, concepts, and practices are ill-adapted to treating minority patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The problems and needs of minority patients are generally misunderstood, and their behaviors are mislabeled as pathological. 

Minorities and Mental Health Establishments 

Solution to Minority Patient Challenges (School)

A clinical supervisor is reviewing the initial treatment plans for three new patients who all presented with moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

- Patient A, a White male, was recommended for weekly, one-on-one psychotherapy.
- Patient B, a Black male, was prescribed an antidepressant and scheduled for monthly 15-minute medication management appointments.
- Patient C, an Asian American female, was referred to a general supportive therapy group.

Based on the information provided, analyze the differences in the treatment plans for these three patients. What pattern of care do these recommendations potentially illustrate?

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