The influence of culture, self-reported multicultural counseling competence, and shifting standards of judgment on perceptions of family functioning of white family counselors

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions of 163 White family counselors who reported their overall impressions of family functioning in response to a fictitious case report. On the intake summary, the family was identified as either Latino or White. Aside from the names used for family members, the cases were identical. Participants assigned significantly higher (i.e., healthier) ratings to the Latino family as compared with the White family. However, this effect was moderated by self-reported multicultural counseling knowledge and awareness. Implications of the findings are discussed. © 2008 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved.