Barriers To Working With Low Income Clients As Experienced By Counsellors
Abstract
This study aimed to answer the question “what are the perceived barriers or challenges counsellors experience when working with low income clients in their practice following COVID-19?”. Participants were recruited via mass email sent to professionals registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), who then completed a survey via Qualtrics (n = 322). 113 Canadian counsellors from across Canada were interviewed. Data obtained from interviews was analyzed using concept mapping software GroupWisdom. Participants (n = 29) grouped the statements into seven themes including: barriers due to low income and employment, systemic barriers for clients, barriers due to trauma, competing needs and priorities, biased approaches, limits to real world helpfulness of counselling, and negative impacts of systems on and for counsellors. Results of the study highlight the importance of identifying and addressing inequities faced by low income clients to make mental health services accessible and available to all regardless of income.