Athabasca University University of Calgary University of Lethbridge

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has become an accepted and empirically validated therapeutic approach in psychotherapy for a number of different presenting concerns. However, it is unclear whether there is empirical evidence to illustrate the efficacy of CBT with individuals from visible ethnic minority populations. Therefore, the aim of this project was to conduct a literature review to assess the degree to which CBT has received both quantitative and qualitative support for the treatment of individuals from visible ethnic minority populations. After an overview of CBT and issues related to efficacy research, 22 quantitative and qualitative outcome studies published between 1999 and 2005 were described and the methodologies were analyzed to determine the efficacy of CBT with visible ethnic minority participants. The findings from the review and analysis illustrate that CBT has not been proven to be efficacious in the treatment of visible ethnic minority clients.