Arpana G. Inman

Qualitative Data Analysis and Interpretation in Counseling Psychology: Strategies for Best Practices

This article presents an overview of various strategies and methods of engaging in qualitative data interpretations and analyses in counseling psychology. The authors explore the themes of self, culture, collaboration, circularity, trustworthiness, and evidence deconstruction from multiple qualitative methodologies. Commonalities and differences that span across approaches are explored. Implications for how researchers address qualitative data analysis and interpretation in counseling psychology training and research are discussed.

Cultural Transmission: Influence of Contextual Factors in Asian Indian Immigrant Parents' Experiences

Sixteen 1st-generation Asian Indian mothers and fathers were interviewed about the influence of immigration on retention of their own ethnic identity and their ability to promote a sense of ethnic identity in their 2nd-generation children. Data were analyzed with the consensual qualitative research methodology (C. E. Hill et al., 2005) and revealed ethnic identity retention to be influenced by engagement in cultural celebrations and activities, a need to hold onto tradition and upbringing, family ties, social support, and a rejection of perceived Western values. Ethnic identity retention was challenged by environmental obstacles and barriers within American society, loss of familial support, lack of cultural continuity, and an inability to have the “best of both worlds.” Furthermore, participants identified specific values and strategies relevant to transmitting an ethnic identity to their children as well as specific challenges to this process, including limited familial and communal guidance and modeling, obstacles from Western culture, an inability to apply their own experience or upbringing, a lack of cultural knowledge, and the potential for intermarriage. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Asian American families' collectivistic coping strategies in response to 9/11

Our study investigated the use of individualistic and collectivistic coping strategies among Asian American family members of victims of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on September 11th, 2001. Interviews were conducted with 11 Asian Americans who had lost a member of their family in the WTC attacks. Using the Discovery-Oriented Research analysis (Mahrer, 1988), results indicated that Asian Americans utilized the following collectivistic coping methods to deal with their losses: individualistic coping, familial coping, intracultural coping, relational universality, forbearance, fatalism/ spirituality, and indigenous healing methods. Additionally, our research found that cultural stigmata, privacy issues, and lack of culturally responsive counselors were factors in participants not utilizing available mental health services. Implications for culturally appropriate services, counseling, and research are discussed.

South Asian women: Identities and conflicts.

This study investigated the effects of education, level of religiosity, ethnic identity (internal and external), and racial identity statuses (conformity, dissonance, resistance, and awareness) on cultural value conflict for first and second generation South Asian women (N = 193). Cultural value conflict was examined in two areas, intimate relations and sex-role expectations. Results revealed that level of religiosity was more predictive of intimate relations conflict for second generation than first generation women. Furthermore, higher ratings in internal ethnic identity predicted greater intimate relations conflict in first generation women, while both internal and external ethnic identity predicted intimate relations conflict in second generation women. Finally, higher dissonance scores in racial identity predicted greater conflicts in sex-role expectations for second generation women alone.

Middle Eastern Americans: The Effects of Stigma on Attitudes Toward Counseling

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of self-stigma of mental illness on the relationship between perceived public stigma of mental illness and attitudes toward counseling. One hundred and two Middle Eastern Americans from universities across the United States participated in the study. Path analysis consisting of multiple regressions revealed that mediation was not met. However, results revealed that participants with greater levels of self-stigma exhibited more negative attitudes toward counseling. Implications for theory, practice, and research are discussed.

Supervisors’ Experiences of Providing Difficult Feedback in Cross-Ethnic/Racial Supervision

Seventeen clinical supervisors were interviewed regarding their experience of providing difficult feedback in cross-ethnic/racial supervision, and their responses were analyzed using consensual qualitative research (CQR). European American supervisors described supervisees of color who had difficulty in their clinical work with culturally different clients. These supervisors then shared with supervisees their concern that supervisees’ interpersonal skills may negatively affect their clinical and/or supervision work. Supervisors of color described European American supervisees who exhibited insensitivity toward clients of color in session or during supervision. These supervisors shared their concern that supervisees’ lack of cultural sensitivity may negatively affect their clinical work. These contrasting feedback experiences had a profound effect on supervisory relationships and the processes within supervision.

Multicultural competence: psychotherapy practice and supervision.

Multicultural competence in psychotherapy and supervision have been deemed as critical to ethical practice. This article offers two supervisory interventions, the Critical Events Model (Ladany, Friedlander, & Nelson, 2005) and the Heuristic Model of Nonoppressive Interpersonal Development (Ancis & Ladany, 2010) to highlight the use of a multiculturally competent framework in psychotherapy and supervision. By using a case vignette we elucidate the process that can ensue within both the therapeutic and supervisory setting.

Multicultural supervision: supervisees’ reflections on culturally competent supervision

This study examined supervisees’ perceived experiences of supervisor multicultural competence in supervision and its impact on supervisees’ clinical work. Specific attention was given to the cultural content discussed and the supervisory multicultural interventions used in supervision. Data from 102 supervisees was analyzed through a discovery-oriented qualitative approach. With regard to content, the most common focus was on race followed by gender, ethnicity, and religion/spirituality. An examination of the multiculturally competent supervisor interventions revealed that supervisors’ frequently educated and facilitated exploration of specific cultural issues, discussed culturally appropriate therapeutic interventions and skills, facilitated supervisee self-awareness within the supervision session, and challenged and encouraged cultural openness of supervisee’s understanding of client and cultural issues. The most frequent manner by which the supervisory experience affected client work involved the supervisee modifying the treatment approach, recognizing personal limitations and experiencing improved self-awareness as a counselor in their work with clients, and developing an enhanced understanding of and empathy towards their clients. Implications for these findings are discussed.

In Her Own Words: Ethnic-Minority Bisexual Women's Self-Reported Counseling Needs

Literature on counseling competence with lesbian and gay clients has been growing; however, research on bisexual-specific counseling is in its early stages. The counseling needs of ethnic-minority and female bisexual clients remain largely unexamined. Qualitative interviews with 14 ethnic-minority bisexual women were conducted to investigate the counseling considerations for this population. Consensual qualitative research analysis was used. Analyses revealed that counselor knowledge of the ethnic-minority bisexual experience, client concerns regarding counseling, specific therapeutic tasks, counselors need for awareness of biases and client preferences for counselor characteristics were important counseling considerations. Implications for theory, practice, and research are explored.

Ecologically Based, Culturally Concordant Responding Following Disasters The Counseling Psychologist’s Role

This article reviews the existing theory, research, policy, and practice of disaster mental health and the role of counseling psychology in post-disaster and catastrophic situations, all from a social justice perspective. Specifically, we discuss the phases and stages, social ecology, and individual reactions to disasters. A case study is presented, followed by mental health interventions and counseling psychology’s role in these interventions at both the individual and systemic levels. We conclude with an overview of professional issues that often emerge when working in disaster areas, cultural issues that arise, and ways for counseling psychologists to become involved in this work.