Page 296 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

270 microaggressive impact on mental health practice

utilization (Burkard & Knox, 2004). Likewise, racial microaggressions may
also explain why clients of color frequently fail to return for appointments
(Sue, Capodilupo, et al., 2007). Most research indicates that Whites attend
many more therapy sessions than clients of color, who often fail to return
(premature termination) even when scheduled and in distress (Barnes, 1994;
Kearney et al., 2005; S. Sue, Fujino, Hu, Takeuchi, & Zane, 1991). Sue and Sue
(2008) have argued that the generic characteristics of counseling (culture - bound
values, class - bound values, and linguistic factors) might be antagonistic to the
life values and experiences of clients of color; they are made to feel uncomfort-
able and oppressed in sessions with therapists who impose their standards of
normality and abnormality on culturally diverse clients, and communicate to
them how they should think, feel, and act.
Not only do these Western approaches to mental health cause problems
for clients of color, but the well - intentioned helping professional may com-
municate these restrictive qualities via racial microaggressions. Our opening
case example illustrates a complex interplay of racial microaggressions that
damage and rupture the helping relationship. Counseling and psychotherapy
depend on the establishment of a deeply personal relationship between the
therapist and client. Therapy is an intimate personal journey that relies on
a trusting relationship and the credibility of the helper. Counselors are trained
to listen, to communicate understanding, to be empathic, to be objective, to
value the client ’ s integrity, to uphold the best interests of the client, and to use
their skills and expertise to aid clients in solving their problems (Grencavage &
Norcross, 1990). More importantly, the best predictor of a successful outcome
in counseling is the client ’ s perception of an accepting and positive relationship
(Horvath & Symonds, 1991). How clients of color perceive counselors and
helping relationships is more important than how counselors perceive helpers.
Racial microaggressions destroy or seriously impair the establishment of rapport
and a working relationship. A failed therapeutic relationship may result in
inability to share intimate fears and concerns, lead to a premature termination,
or lead to a failure to return for a future session.

CULTURAL MISTRUST IN MULTICULTURAL
COUNSELING RELATIONSHIPS

What therapists do and say in sessions can either enhance or diminish their
credibility. When a therapist appears inattentive, seems to lack empathy or
understanding, or makes/engages in offensive microaggressions, clients of

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