Asian American preferences for an ideal mental health treatment provider

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the preferences of Asian American college students (n = 37) for an ideal treatment provider. Specifically, we examined preferences regarding the preferred type of mental health provider, the relative importance of certain provider characteristics and the preferred interpersonal attributes of an ideal provider. Additionally, the Orthogonal Cultural Identification Scale (OCIS) was used to compare preferences between participants with higher and lower Asian cultural identification. Results indicate some differences in all the three provider preference areas depending on the level of Asian identity. Clinical implications for accommodating the mental health provider preferences of Asian American individuals are discussed.

Keywords:

• Asian American
• preferences
• counsellor