Universität zu Köln

Hallmann-Perez, Clara ORCID: 0009-0003-9477-1534, Gerlach, Alexander L. ORCID: 0000-0001-6794-5349 and Slotta, Timo ORCID: 0000-0002-7217-0477 (2025). Racial Microaggressions in Psychotherapy Dyads: Addressing Subtle Forms of Racism Mitigates Their Negative Relation With Working Alliance and Improvement. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 233 (3). pp. 182-192. Hogrefe. ISSN 2190-8370

PDF hallmann-perez-et-al-2025-racial-microaggressions-in-psychotherapy-dyads.pdf Bereitstellung unter der CC-Lizenz: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (221kB)

Abstract

Background: Microaggressions are associated with negative health-related outcomes, and they can affect the quality of health care. There is limited evidence regarding the prevalence of microaggressions and their impact within psychotherapies, especially outside of the United States. Research Question: This work examines the occurrence of racial microaggressions within German psychotherapies, their relation to client-rated working alliance and treatment outcome, and the moderating role of subsequently addressing them. Method: Racially minoritized individuals ( N = 209) who were currently in therapy or terminated within the last year reported their experiences in an online survey. Results: Most participants reported microaggressions from their therapists. Microaggressions were negatively linked to therapeutic working alliance and perceived improvement. These effects diminished when therapists effectively addressed previous microaggressions. Conclusions and Implications: Therapists may inadvertently perpetuate racism but are both responsible and capable of intervening once a microaggression has occurred. At an institutional level, this requires antidiscriminatory training and supervision.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Hallmann-Perez, Clara UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9477-1534 UNSPECIFIED Gerlach, Alexander L. UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6794-5349 UNSPECIFIED Slotta, Timo UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7217-0477 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-799454
Identification Number:	10.1027/2151-2604/a000588
Journal or Publication Title:	Zeitschrift für Psychologie
Volume:	233
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 182-192
Number of Pages:	11
Date:	July 2025
Publisher:	Hogrefe
ISSN:	2190-8370
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79945