Counseling Outcome as a Function of Counselor Nationality for American Expatriate Clients

Abstract

This study tested the proposition that national similarity between counselor and client results in improved counseling outcome. Using a repeated-measures, quasiexperimental design, eight female counselors (four Turkish, four American) saw 16 volunteer, expatriate female American clients for single, individual counseling sessions. Results indicated no differences on (a) clients' and counselors' ratings of working alliance and of progress on goals, or (b) clients' ratings of utilization intent as a function of counselor nationality. Irrespective of nationality, clients'ratings of working alliance were higher than their counselors. These results echo a trend suggesting that clients' preferences for cultural/ethnic similarity dissipate as the research methodology approximates actual counseling sessions. Additionally, local mental health service providers may be a viable resource for expatriate Americans.

“If the Barn Is Burning, Let the House Burn as Well”

“…They share a cultural background with their clients and are generally expected to exhibit greater sensitivity and provide more effective services (Bellini, 2003). However, the counseling process may be positively affected by client/counselor similarity on variables other than ethnic match (Bikos & Uruk, 2005). In the context of the present study, such variables may include similar patterns of drug abuse, perception of normative interpersonal relationships, criminal background, rehabilitation experience, and immigration.…”

“…Literature suggests that clients generally prefer ethnically similar counselors (Bikos & Uruk, 2005). They share a cultural background with their clients and are generally expected to exhibit greater sensitivity and provide more effective services (Bellini, 2003).…”

Experimental research in expatriation and its challenges: A literature review and recommendations

“…The second strategy was to focus on only one location that most likely hosts a large number of potential participants. Bikos and Uruk (2006) chose the Turkish capital Ankara to conduct their quasi-experimental field study focusing on American female expatriates in Turkey, while Anderzén and Arnetz recruited assignees of MNCs and governmental organizations headquartered in Sweden-prior to departure for their assignments-to run their longitudinal quasi-experimental study. Similarly, although not targeting expatriates but managerial samples, Beaudoin et al (2012) and Tung (2008) took advantage of the pool of potential study participants present at their respective research institutions and conducted their randomized experimental studies in a classroom setting with managers and executives enrolled in MBA and executive programs.…”

“…The few authors who did recruit expatriates achieved this by either leveraging their personal networks combined with employing the snowball technique (e.g. Bikos and Uruk, 2006), advertising their study in a wide range of physical and online sites frequented by expatriates (international schools, expatriate fairs, online networks, etc.) and offering a concrete incentive for the expatriates (such as providing them with a local host; for example, Van Bakel et al, 2011), or cooperating with MNCs and government institutions (e.g.…”

“…Those researchers whose research questions did involve independent variables with restricted manipulability tended to follow one of three approaches: Using a quasi-experimental design, developing hypothetical scenarios through vignettes, or using priming to increase the salience of the condition they wanted to study. Authors such as Anderzén and Arnetz (1997) and Bikos and Uruk (2006) chose a quasi-experimental design. In the latter study, the authors employed a matched-sampling approach with a within-subjects design by recruiting American and Turkish counselors with matching education and years of practice and having each expatriate receive counseling from counselors of each nationality.…”