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Effective Psychotherapy With Low-income Clients: The Importance of Attending to Social Class

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore some of the issues associated with conducting psychotherapy with low-income clients. Throughout the article, we draw from our specific clinical experiences working with low-income Latina mothers in a depression prevention program. The themes that we address regarding class and psychotherapy are in the areas of assessment of social class, integration of class issues into the therapy process, and managing differences in social class between therapists and clients. As we discuss these themes, we provide concrete recommendations in order to advance awareness and effectiveness in working with economically disadvantaged populations.

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Acknowledgment

Preparation of this article was supported in part by NIMH grant R34 MH082043 to Esteban Cardemil.

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Correspondence to Saeromi Kim.

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Kim, S., Cardemil, E. Effective Psychotherapy With Low-income Clients: The Importance of Attending to Social Class. J Contemp Psychother 42, 27–35 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-011-9194-0

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