Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
School
Social Work
Advisor
Yvonne M. Chase
Abstract
AbstractCultural humility is an ethical standard within the social work profession. As the United States becomes more diverse, there are increasing rates of failure to implement cultural humility in social work practice in mental health settings. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to examine how clinical social workers demonstrate cultural humility and intersectionality in mental health settings. The theoretical basis on which the research was conducted includes the person-centered theory and the feminist theories, which provided a strong framework for understanding the influences of cultural dynamics and intersectionality on the quality of patient outcomes in mental health care. Seventeen clinical social workers in Washington State participated in Zoom or telephone interviews to offer examples of behaviors of clinical practice that demonstrate cultural humility and intersectionality. The interview transcripts were thematically analyzed, resulting in the following themes (a) genuine interests in the culture of the clients, (b) therapist congruence, (c) unconditional positive regard, and (d) empathic understanding. The implications of this study for social change and social work practice include the application of research findings to the formulation of relevant interventions to promote the adoption of cultural humility and intersectionality as clinical behaviors to improve the quality of patient outcomes in mental health care settings.
Recommended Citation
Okeke, Loretta Kosi, "Examining Clinical Behaviors That Demonstrate Intersectionality and Cultural Humility in Mental Health Treatment" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12496.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12496
