Irish services users' experiences of working with culturally diverse mental health professionals: a Grounded Theory study

Abstract

This article presents the lived experience perspective of adult mental health (MH) service users of Irish origin receiving treatment from culturally diverse MH professionals. The current study applied Grounded Theory principles to explore the service users' experiences of MH service and being treated by ethnically diverse professionals within it. The aim of the research was to focus on the quality of the therapeutic process. The project is based on nine comprehensive interviews exploring the service users' experiences of their journey to recovery. Four core themes emerged: (1) treatment and recovery, (2) positive service attributes, (3) negative service attributes along with appreciation and (4) acceptance of cultural diversity. The subthemes of: positive, empowering therapeutic relationship with the service provider and trust in the expertise of the professional, regardless of the service provider's nationality, pervaded through other issues. Initial apprehension of cultural difference in relation to e.g. language was among the findings encountered. This and other results in relation to the service users' experience of cultural diversity among clinicians are discussed and suggestions for further research offered.

Keywords:

• cultural diversity
• culturally diverse mental health professional
• mental health service user
• therapeutic relationship

Notes on contributors

Anna Wroblewska-O'Sullivan, PhD (Clin.Psych), MPsychSc(Couns.) is a clinical and counselling psychologist with 15 years of experience addressing mental health difficulties. She is currently employed as a senior clinical psychologist by RehabCare - a large provider of health and social care services across lifespan in Ireland. Her main research interests are cultural aspects of clinical psychology and adult mental health.

Dr. Barry Coughlan currently holds the post of Assistant Course Director of the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick. He is also employed as a Senior Clinical Psychologist with the Brothers of Charity Services, Limerick, and is a Research Associate with Sunfield School in the UK. Barry holds an honours degree in Applied Psychology from University College Cork, and a double doctorate (PhD, University College Cork) & (D.Psych.Sc., University College Dublin).

In terms of his clinical practice, Barry works with adults with intellectual disability, and has a particular interest in the mental health needs of this population. His other areas of interest in the field include Autistic Spectrum Disorder, challenging behaviour, epilepsy, person-centred planning & psychotropic drug use. Prior to his post with the Brothers of Charity, he worked in the field of Adult Mental Health, with the HSE West.

In terms of research interests, Barry is actively involved in research projects within the field of intellectual disability, along with other projects in the areas of child & adolescent psychology, adult mental health, the older adult, & other specialist populations. He is currently supervising Masters, Ph.D, & D.Clin.Psych candidates, at the University of Limerick. Barry presents lectures and workshops both nationally and internationally, most recently in the UK, New Zealand & the USA.

Dermot Ryan, PhD, is a trainee psychologist with the Longford/Westmeath Psychology Service and the University College of Dublin Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology. His PhD project was the first longitudinal psychosocial study of asylum seekers. His research interests include psychological adaptation among migrant populations and cultural competence in mental health services. He was a founding member of the Psychological Society of Ireland's Culture and Ethnic Diversity Special Interest Group.

Notes

1. The most recent CSO population census – April 2011 – 4.58 million. Statistics in relation to the foreign population from the 2011 census are estimated to be available in June 2012.