Clinical Experiences With Clients Who Are Low-Income: Mental Health Practitioners' Perspectives.
The experiences of nine licensed mental health practitioners regarding their work with clients from low-income backgrounds were examined utilizing grounded theory methodology. Themes that emerged from the semi-structured interviews highlighted a rich narrative that portrayed the work as both deeply satisfying and inherently complex. Participants described the personal nature of this work, including countertransference elicited because of their own personal economic contexts and emotional reactions experienced within and outside the therapy room. Their stories acknowledged systematic challenges that act as barriers to treatment. Some participants noted that this has contributed to feelings of disillusionment toward the field as well as fears about the future of the mental health care. Based on these findings, we discuss implications for training, future research, and clinical practice.
['Thompson|Mindi N|MN|', 'Nitzarim|Rachel S|RS|', 'Cole|Odessa D|OD|', 'Frost|Nickholas D|ND|', 'Ramirez Stege|Alyssa|A|', 'Vue|Pa Tou|PT|']
D000328:Adult D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel D005260:Female D066296:Grounded Theory D054625:Healthcare Disparities D006801:Humans D007407:Interviews as Topic D008297:Male D001523:Mental Disorders D008875:Middle Aged D011203:Poverty D011369:Professional-Patient Relations D011613:Psychotherapy D036301:Qualitative Research D012923:Social Class D014481:United States D000078329:Workforce
grounded theory health care disparities mental health and illness poverty psychology