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Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes.

Cabral, Raquel R., Smith, Timothy B.·2011·Journal of Counseling Psychology

DOI 10.1037/a0025266

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Abstract

Across several decades the effects of matching clients with therapists of the same race/ethnicity have been explored using a variety of approaches. We conducted a meta-analysis of 3 variables frequently used in research on racial/ethnic matching: individuals' preferences for a therapist of their own race/ethnicity, clients' perceptions of therapists across racial/ethnic match, and therapeutic outcomes across racial/ethnic match. Across 52 studies of preferences, the average effect size (Cohen's d) was 0.63, indicating a moderately strong preference for a therapist of one's own race/ethnicity. Across 81 studies of individuals' perceptions of therapists, the average effect size was 0.32, indicating a tendency to perceive therapists of one's own race/ethnicity somewhat more positively than other therapists. Across 53 studies of client outcomes in mental health treatment, the average effect size was 0.09, indicating almost no benefit to treatment outcomes from racial/ethnic matching of clients with therapists. These 3 averaged effect sizes were characterized by substantial heterogeneity: The effects of racial/ethnic matching are highly variable. Studies involving African American participants demonstrated the highest effect sizes across all 3 types of evaluations: preferences, perceptions, and outcomes.

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“, 2018), ethnicity (Speight and Vera, 2005; Cabral and Smith, 2011), prior psychotherapeutic experiences (Speight and Vera, 2005; Cooper et al.”
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“…while these variables and their interaction undoubtedly shape the therapeutic process in important ways, their statistical significance in regard to therapeutic effectiveness is negligible (e.g., Atkinson & Schein, 1986; Cabral & Smith, 2011; Jones & Zoppel, 1982; Zlotnick, Elkin, & Shea, 1998).”
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“…clinicians suggest that cultural matching is key for the development of trusting therapeutic relationships that lead to health improvement (Ibaraki & Hall, 2014), the BRIGHTEN program is consistent with findings that other factors play a larger role (Cabral & Smith, 2011; Presnell et al., 2012).”
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Authors: Cabral, R. R., & Smith, T. B.
Affiliations: Brigham Young University (US)
ORCID: Smith, Timothy B.
Venue: Journal of Counseling Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2011
Volume: 58
Issue: 4
Pages: 537-554
ISSN: 0022-0167 (ISSN-L)
1939-2168
DOI: 10.1037/a0025266
OpenAlex: W2082304096
Cited by: 651
References: 228
Citations by year: 2026: 41 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 61 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 13
FWCI: 21.35
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Counseling Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords: therapist preferences, client perceptions of therapists, treatment outcomes, mental health services, African American clients
MeSH terms: Mental Disorders, Ethnicity, Health Personnel, Humans, Mental Health Services, Professional-Patient Relations, Psychotherapy, Treatment Outcome, Patient Satisfaction, Racial Groups, Cultural Competency

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Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes.

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