Abstract
This study aimed to determine what, if any, relationship existed between ethnic matching of clients and clinicians to improve counseling outcomes. This study utilized archival data obtained from 2006 to 2012 collected from a university-counseling center. There were a total of 314 clients in the study. With regard to ethnic matching, 68 (21.66%) clients received services from a counselor of the same ethnic background whereas 246 (78.34%) clients received services from a counselor of a different ethnic background. Counselors rated clients' level of functioning at intake and termination. Outcomes were measured by the GAF and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). GAF-difference and BPRS-difference scores were calculated, and differences in scores were determined by subtracting intake scores from termination scores. Collapsed across levels of ethnic match, no significant differences in GAF were observed among clients from different ethnic backgrounds at intake or termination. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in GAF-difference scores (i.e. client improvement). Likewise, collapsed across levels of ethnic match, with only two exceptions, there were no significant findings observed in BPRS subscale scores at intake or termination. It was recommended that future researchers analyze the relationship between ethnic matching for clients and clinicians using the BPRS along with client self-report measures across a variety of treatment settings, geographic locations and academic institutions. It was also recommended that future research utilize both quantitative and qualitative research methodology, and use primary data collection. Clinical implications of the findings were also discussed.