The Link Between Therapists' Social Class Attributions and Treating Clients of Low Socioeconomic Status

The Link Between Therapists’ Social Class Attributions and Treating Clients of Low Socioeconomic Status by Dan Sharir Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Program Walden University May 2017 Abstract Social class may impact the ways people are perceived and treated by others. The social class attributions of therapists may influence the manner in which they conceptualize their clients’ problems and their relationship with their clients. There is a gap in the literature concerning the link between therapists’ social class attributions and their responses toward low socioeconomic status (SES) clients in actual clinical settings, which could impact the therapists’ interaction with their clients and the treatment process. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to examine the links between therapists’ social class attributions and their experiences with low SES clients in clinical settings. The rationale for this study was based on treatment exhibited by therapists towards their low SES clients as evidenced by their treatment plans and peer interactions. Guided by attribution theory, research questions inquired into the attributions of 10 purposefully chosen mastersand doctoral-level therapists concerning the issues of social class, their low SES clients, and treatment outcomes for those clients. Interview data were interpreted using a cross-case synthesis technique and content analysis. The participants related to the issue of poverty in the way it impacted them or the way it impacted their clients. Findings could contribute to social change by increasing awareness among therapists concerning the impact of poverty, reducing bias and misconceptions among therapists, improving training of students and therapists, and improving understanding among therapists of the way social class attributions could impact their work with low SES clients.Social class may impact the ways people are perceived and treated by others. The social class attributions of therapists may influence the manner in which they conceptualize their clients’ problems and their relationship with their clients. There is a gap in the literature concerning the link between therapists’ social class attributions and their responses toward low socioeconomic status (SES) clients in actual clinical settings, which could impact the therapists’ interaction with their clients and the treatment process. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to examine the links between therapists’ social class attributions and their experiences with low SES clients in clinical settings. The rationale for this study was based on treatment exhibited by therapists towards their low SES clients as evidenced by their treatment plans and peer interactions. Guided by attribution theory, research questions inquired into the attributions of 10 purposefully chosen mastersand doctoral-level therapists concerning the issues of social class, their low SES clients, and treatment outcomes for those clients. Interview data were interpreted using a cross-case synthesis technique and content analysis. The participants related to the issue of poverty in the way it impacted them or the way it impacted their clients. Findings could contribute to social change by increasing awareness among therapists concerning the impact of poverty, reducing bias and misconceptions among therapists, improving training of students and therapists, and improving understanding among therapists of the way social class attributions could impact their work with low SES clients. The Link Between Therapists’ Social Class Attributions and Treating Clients of Low Socioeconomic Status by Dan Sharir Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Program Walden University May 2017 Dedication I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my parents, who provided support throughout the doctoral degree process. I would also like to dedicate this dissertation to my wife, who provided me with encouragement to pursue my doctoral degree. Finally, I would also like to dedicate this dissertation to my daughter and hope that my achievement will encourage her to pursue her dreams. Acknowledgments A number of people dedicated their time and effort to assist me in the completion of this dissertation. I would like to acknowledge my dissertation committee chair Dr. Jane Lyons and committee member Dr. Peggy Samples. Dr. Lyons provided invaluable criticism and encouragement that allowed me to progress from the initial draft to the final completed dissertation. I would also like to acknowledge my wife, Eti who provided me with support and encouragement to complete this degree.