Client Perceptions of Their Counselors-in-Training Multicultural Competence and the Therapeutic Relationship: A Pilot Study

This pilot study investigates the relationship between 148 clients’ perceptions of the working alliance and their counselors-in-training (CIT) multicultural competencies (MCC). Results indicated a strong positive association between client perception of CIT multicultural competence and the working alliance (r = .65), with CIT multicultural competence explaining 43% of the variance in the working alliance. No significant differences were found between the fifth and second-to-last sessions. Together, these findings highlight the critical role of MCCs in enhancing therapeutic relationships and suggest integrating MCCs throughout counselor training may strengthen the development of the working alliance in counselor practice throughout the counseling process.