Article
Invisible outsiders: Developing a working alliance with Appalachian clients
The Practitioner Scholar: Journal of Counseling & Professional Psychology
(2017)
Abstract
Appalachian clients are often ‘invisible’ within the majority culture and possess characteristics unique to the region that must be considered within the counseling relationship (Tang & Russ, 2007). Individuals in Appalachia have higher incidences of certain mental health disorders and substance use as compared to the national average (Appalachian Regional Commission [ARC], 2008). Although the need for mental health services is evident, limited research exists to inform mental health professionals how to deliver culturally competent interventions to build a working alliance with Appalachian clients. The authors will discuss a framework for mental health professionals to develop a strong working alliance through a review of the cultural distinctions of Appalachian individuals, culturally appropriate counseling interventions, and a case illustration.
Keywords
- Appalachia,
- cultural competence,
- working alliance,
- counselors,
- diversity
Disciplines
Publication Date
September 13, 2017
Publisher Statement
This article was published in The Practitioner Scholar: Journal of Counseling & Professional Psychology, volume 6, issue 1, 2017, and can also be found online here.
Citation Information
Jake J. Protivnak, Cassandra G. Pusateri, Matthew J. Paylo and Kyoung Mi Choi. "Invisible outsiders: Developing a working alliance with Appalachian clients" The Practitioner Scholar: Journal of Counseling & Professional Psychology Vol. 6 Iss. 1 (2017) p. 79 - 91 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kyoung-choi/1/
Creative Commons license
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY International License.