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Published by American Psychological Association
This APA guideline provides recommendations for psychologists to deliver culturally competent care to individuals experiencing low-income and economic marginalization (LIEM). It covers four main domains: training and education, health disparities, treatment considerations, and the intersection of LIEM with career concerns and unemployment. The document emphasizes the need for practitioners to address social class biases, understand systemic barriers to healthcare access, and utilize flexible, evidence-based treatments tailored to this population.
Key Takeaways
Psychologists strive to gain awareness of how their biases related to social class may impact the training and education they provide.
Psychologists are encouraged to increase their knowledge and understanding of social class issues, including poverty and wealth, through continuing education, training, supervision, and consultation.
Psychologists strive to understand the contribution of economic and social marginalization to the substantial health disparities in our society.
Psychologists strive to promote equity in the access to, and the quality of, healthcare available for people from LIEM backgrounds.
Psychologists acknowledge the presence of social class as a variable that is present in mental health treatment settings. Psychologists are encouraged to seek to a) understand how social class influences psychotherapists’ ability to effectively engage clients in treatment, and b) attend to ways that social class differences manifest and impact the experience of mental health treatment for clients.
Psychologists aim to understand the barriers that prevent persons with low SES from better accessing mental health care and make efforts to alleviate these barriers when providing psychological interventions and/or creating mental health care delivery systems.
Psychologists strive to understand the common clinical presentations that may be more likely to occur among persons who are from LIEM situations and how best to address these in treatment settings.
Psychologists seek to understand the impact of social class on academic success, career aspirations, and career development throughout the lifespan.
Psychologists seek to understand the interaction among economic insecurity, unemployment, and underemployment and attempt to contribute to re-employment processes for individuals.
Clinical Topic
Psychological Practice with Low-Income and Economically Marginalized Populations
Objectives
To assist psychologists in the provision of culturally competent care for those whose economic position has negatively impacted or constrained their health and well-being.
Target Patient Population
Adults, children, and families who have previously experienced, or are currently experiencing, economic marginalization
Target Providers
Therapeutic Area
Mental HealthGuideline Scope
Care Settings
Special Populations
Difficulty
intermediate
Learning Paths