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Beyond Puerto Ricanism: Social class and migration issues as therapist variables
Abstract
The number of human service professionals who are migrating from Puerto Rico to the United States increased since the 1970's, and intensified during the 1980's (Petrovich, 1983; Turner, 1982). Among these professionals there are many psychotherapists who come to work in community mental health centers with poor and low income Puerto Rican migrants. The literature on cross-cultural psychotherapy, however, has virtually overlooked the possible effects on therapy of differences in social class when both parts of the therapeutic dyad are Latinos. This study explored the perceptions of twelve Puerto Rican psychotherapists who migrated from Puerto Rico to the U.S. primarily during the 1980's about how their own condition as migrants and the differences in social class between themselves and their clients affect the therapeutic relationship. Using a qualitative research approach, data was gathered through a structured open-ended interview. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with Puerto Rican psychotherapists who work in mental health centers in Massachusetts primarily with poor and low income Puerto Rican migrants. A grounded theory model guided the data analysis in the pursuit of similarities, differences, and patterns among respondents. All interviewed therapists identified significant differences between themselves and their Puerto Rican migrant clients related to social class, including differences in values, belief systems, and general lifestyle. Furthermore, it was found that the concept of migrant is negatively charged in the understanding of interviewed therapists, and it was difficult to match a self-perception as a professional with that of a migrant. It is concluded that the differences identified by interviewed therapists between themselves and their poor and low income Puerto Rican clients in the context of migration makes the therapeutic situation a "cross-cultural" one for all practical purposes, despite the fact of being from the same national origin. Consequently, it is recommended that social class be acknowledged as a highly significant variable in the therapeutic relationship, regardless of nationality of the parts involved. Training about the importance of social class issues in therapy is strongly recommended, both at the level of graduate schools and at the level of employment recruitment.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology|Psychology|Social psychology
Recommended Citation
Facundo, America, "Beyond Puerto Ricanism: Social class and migration issues as therapist variables" (1992). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9233216.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9233216