Therapist and counseling center effects on international students' counseling outcome: A mixed methods study

We employed a convergent mixed methods design to examine therapist and counseling center effects on international student clients' (ISCs) counseling outcomes. Using the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) data set (2015-2017), we conducted a three-level hierarchical linear model with clients (N = 85,110) nested in therapists (N = 1,267), and therapists nested in counseling centers (N = 111), with clients' international status predicting distress (DI) in their last sessions while controlling for initial DI. Compared to domestic students, the average last session DI was significantly higher among ISCs. Random effects were significant, suggesting that some therapists and centers were more effective in their work with ISCs than others. When the proportion of ISCs seen was accounted into the model, we found a cross-level interaction in which the last session DI differences between ISCs and domestic students were significant for centers seeing a small percentage of ISCs but not for centers with large percentages of ISCs in the caseload. Grounded theory analysis of qualitative data from 11 therapists with international backgrounds revealed therapist and center factors that converged with our quantitative findings. Participants reported adhering to general clinical frameworks when working with ISCs given the lack of training on international competence (which may help explain the effectiveness gap), but also noted nuanced culturally-informed components that likely contribute to more effectively working with ISCs. Findings around center effects were complemented by qualitative results emphasizing systemic representation and engagement with diversity, creative outreach efforts, and administrative/leadership support. Implications for practice and research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).