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Barriers to Mental Health Care for Low-Income Clients as Perceived by Counselors

  • Riley Keast
  • , Marguerite Lengyell
  • , Charlotte Finnigan
  • , Jason Brown
  • , Melissa Jay
  • Western University
  • Faculty of Education

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Articlepeer-review

Abstract

This study aimed to answer the question, “What have [counselors] found to be the least helpful aspects of counseling with clients facing low income?” One hundred thirteen counselors were recruited via mass email, completed an online survey, and participated in individual interviews. Using a group concept mapping procedure, participants grouped the data into seven concepts, including barriers due to low income and employment, systemic barriers for clients, obstacles due to trauma, competing needs and priorities, biased approaches, limits to real-world helpfulness of counseling, and negative impacts of systems on and for counselors. The results highlight the importance of identifying and addressing inequities faced by clients living with a low income to increase the accessibility and availability of mental health services for all.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2-21
Number of pages20
JournalJournal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan. 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Low income
  • barriers
  • challenges
  • concept mapping
  • counseling

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