Invisible outsiders: Developing a working alliance with Appalachian clients

Authors

Jake Protivnak, Youngstown State University
Cassandra Pusateri, East Tennessee State University
Matthew Paylo, Youngstown State University
Kyoung Choi, California State University, Fresno

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

September 2017

Publication Title

The Practitioner Scholar: Journal of Counseling & Professional Psychology

Volume

6

Issue Number

1

First Page

79

Last Page

91

Abstract

Appalachian clients are often ‘invisible’ within the majority culture and possess characteristics unique to the region that must be considered within the counseling relationship (Tang & Russ, 2007). Individuals in Appalachia have higher incidences of certain mental health disorders and substance use as compared to the national average (Appalachian Regional Commission [ARC], 2008). Although the need for mental health services is evident, limited research exists to inform mental health professionals how to deliver culturally competent interventions to build a working alliance with Appalachian clients. The authors will discuss a framework for mental health professionals to develop a strong working alliance through a review of the cultural distinctions of Appalachian individuals, culturally appropriate counseling interventions, and a case illustration.

Comments

This article was published in The Practitioner Scholar: Journal of Counseling & Professional Psychology, volume 6, issue 1, 2017, and can also be found online here.

Recommended Citation

Jake Protivnak, Cassandra Pusateri, Matthew Paylo, and Kyoung Choi. "Invisible outsiders: Developing a working alliance with Appalachian clients" The Practitioner Scholar: Journal of Counseling & Professional Psychology (2017): 79-91.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.