Citation/Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the perspectives of Latino clients at a community health center regarding various aspects of the mental health services they were receiving. The sharing of the perspectives of these individuals allows their collective voice to be heard in order to provide justification for the necessary systemic changes to occur so that they can have access to the mental health services that best meet their needs. A qualitative, phenomenological research design utilizing an interview guide was used to allow the researcher the opportunity to hear first-hand from individuals about their own perspectives, and allow them to express that which otherwise may have been lost in a quantitative study. Four themes were drawn from the data as representations of the Latino client's perspective on mental health services: Barriers to Accessibility, Cultural Values, Knowledge of the Mental Health System, and Therapist Characteristics. It is the researcher's hope that the information presented here can be used as an impetus for change that will lead to the improvement of mental health services offered to this population.