Edward A. Delgado-Romero

Sexual Orientation Microaggressions: The Experience of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Clients in Psychotherapy

Psychological research has shown the detrimental effects that overt heterosexism have on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) clients and on the psychotherapeutic relationship. However, the effects of subtle forms of discrimination, specifically sexual orientation microaggressions, have on LGBQ clients and the therapeutic relationship have not been addressed. This study used qualitative methodology to explore the phenomenon of sexual orientation microaggressions with 16 self-identified LGBQ psychotherapy clients. Results of this study support the existence of sexual orientation microaggressions within the therapeutic environment and provide a descriptive account of 7 sexual orientation microaggression themes, channels of microaggression communication, and the impact microaggressions have on therapy and clients.

Race and Ethnicity in Empirical Counseling and Counseling Psychology Research A 10-Year Review

This article examined 796 empirical studies published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, the Journal of Counseling and Development, and The Counseling Psychologist from 1990 to 1999 and found that only 457 (57%) reported racial and ethnic characteristics of research participants. From this data, an overall picture was generated of the racial and ethnic compositionof counselingand counseling psychology research participants: 78.2% White, 5.8% Asian American, 6.7% African American, 6.6% Hispanic, 0.9% Native American, and 0.1% multiracial. Compared to the overall U.S. population, Whites and Asian Americans were overrepresented, and African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans were underrepresented. There was limited information about how researchers gathered participants’ race and ethnicity information and on factors that might inform participants’experience as racial and ethnic beings (e.g., racial and ethnic identity, generation status, acculturation). Findings are compared and contrasted with previous reviews related to issues of race and ethnicity in counseling research.

The Roles of Counseling Psychologists in Reducing Health Disparities

This article presents an overview of the health disparities problem that exists among individuals from ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds and their majority counterparts. The argument is made that the involvement of counseling psychologists in addressing this health disparities problem presents an opportunity for the field to remain true to its commitment to prevention, multiculturalism, and social justice while becoming more competitive in the health care and health promotion fields. This article highlights the prevalence of health disparities and identifies the primary factors contributing to these disparities. In addition, the roles and approaches that counseling psychologists can adopt to help alleviate this problem are specified.

Asian International Students in Counseling Programs: A Group Intervention to Promote Social Justice

A group designed to address social justice issues for Asian international students within a counseling training program is described. The authors implemented such a group that led to critical consciousness, accountability, and action spurred by culturally sensitive empowerment. Such a group may be desirable for training programs that want to accept, retain, and graduate international counseling graduate students.

Empowering Hispanic students through student organizations: Competencies for faculty advisors.

The authors present preliminary competencies for faculty advisors of Hispanic Student Organizations (HSOs). The competencies are presented, defined, and illustrated with examples. The article concludes with implications for research.

A psychometric examination of multidimensional inventory of black identity (MIBI) scores.

The factor structure of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI) was assessed in a sample of 272 African American college students using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. The fit indices from the confirmatory analyses did not support the seven-factor first-order model or two alternative higher-order models suggested by the developers, but yielded numerous recommendations for modifications. A post hoc exploratory factor analysis indicated that MIBI items were best represented by a five-factor structure.

A School Counseling Conference Focused on the Emerging Latino/a Population: A Model in the State of Georgia

The state of Georgia has experienced dramatic growth in the Latino/a population during the past decade, with a third of the new Latino/a population younger than the age of 18. Consequently, school systems were not prepared for the challenges posed by a Spanish-speaking immigrant population. The authors organized an interdisciplinary conference to holistically address the issues facing school counselors in their work with the emerging Latino/a population. Implications for other states dealing with an emerging Latino/a population are discussed.

Ethnic Minority Psychological Associations Connections to Counseling Psychology

This article provides the introduction, background and rationale for the Major Contribution focused on five national ethnic minority psychological associations: the Asian American Psychological Association, The Association of Black Psychologists, the National Latina/o Psychological Association, the Society of Indian Psychologists, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues (Division 45 of the American Psychological Association). The first five articles focus on each of the five major ethnic minority psychological associations and their relationship to the specialty of counseling psychology in general and, more specifically, to the largest professional organization of counseling psychologists, the Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17 of the American Psychological Association. In the final article, we summarize general trends and make recommendations. In this introductory article, we (a) describe our rationale for the Major Contribution, (b) provide a brief history of counseling psychology’s growing commitment to an inclusive multicultural psychology, and (c) conclude with a brief description of the articles and authors included in the Major Contribution.

The National Latina/o Psychological Association Like a Phoenix Rising

This article addresses the re-founding of the National Hispanic Psychological Association into the National Latina/o Psychological Association. A brief history is provided, followed by current status and resources, connections to counseling psychology, and implications for the Society of Counseling Psychology and for the future of the National Latina/o Psychological Association.

An Analysis of Race and Ethnic Categories in Career Research From 1990 to 2007

Previous research concerning the reporting of race and ethnicity in empirical research was replicated and expanded. One thousand two hundred sixty-eight studies over the years 1990—2007 were examined in the following journals: Career Development Quarterly, Journal of Career Assessment, Journal of Career Development, and Journal of Vocational Behavior. Results indicated that 62% of studies from 1990 to 1999 and 46% from 2000 to 2007 do not report race or ethnicity at all. A racial/ethnic profile of the research participants over the 18-year period was constructed and compared with the U.S. population for that time period, as well as to previous research. The authors provide implications and suggestions for future research.