ABSTRACT

Population estimates indicate that people of color (i.e., Black/African American, Asian/Asian American, Latino/a American, Native Hawaiian and other Pacic Islanders, and Native Americans) currently comprise about 35% of the population of the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). It is projected that by the year 2050, the percentage of individuals who self-identify as White American or Caucasian will decrease by over 10%, and the overall percentage of individuals who self-identify as Black, Latino/a, and Asian American will increase to about 50% of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). In light of the increased diversity of the U.S. population overall, and of the population of mental health service consumers specically, counseling psychologists have studied and documented the signicant and unmet mental health needs of racially and culturally diverse individuals (Constantine, 2007a).