The Experiences of African American Clients in Counseling with White Therapists

Using the grounded theory method of qualitative research, this study examined the experiences of African American clients in counseling with White therapists. Four African American students from a large public university in the Southeast who were either currently receiving counseling or had completed counseling within a twelve-month time period were interviewed one or two times. Open-ended questions asked participants about barriers to receiving counseling and the things their counselors did that enhanced and lessened their trust for the counselor. A research teim identified 5 highter order themes in the interviews: Historical and Cultural Influences, Client Self in Therapy, Counselor Interventions, Interaction Related to Counseling and Client Differences, and Professionalism. These themes were integrated into one theoretical model: Building and Earning Trust Over Time.