BETHLEHEM, PA — Spanish-speaking Americans in need of mental health care often face long waitlists and limited options, a reality driven by a dramatic shortage of Spanish-speaking therapists.
A new study led by an assistant professor in the Lehigh University College of Education highlights the persistent barriers that Spanish-speaking therapists face, from finding training materials in their language to adapting therapy techniques for culturally diverse clients. Yet it also shows that, when given access to high-quality training, these clinicians deliver care that meets—and even exceeds—national standards.
The research, led by Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle, tracked nearly 1,500 therapists through a seven-month cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) training program. It found that Spanish-speaking therapists, despite being older and more experienced than their English-speaking peers, started with lower initial scores in CBT competence, likely reflecting the scarcity of evidence-based training resources available in Spanish. But after completing the training, Spanish-speaking therapists made greater gains in CBT skills. They ultimately surpassed the established benchmark for quality, with a mean certification score of 42.8 compared to 41.4 for English-speaking therapists.
“With the Latine population continuing to grow, the findings underscore the urgent need to invest in and expand training opportunities for multilingual providers, so that more Americans can access mental health care in the language they trust most,” explained Dr. Mora Ringle.
Yet, the pipeline of Spanish-speaking therapists remains thin, and training opportunities in evidence-based practices, such as CBT, are rare. She notes that, for example, only 4% of therapists in a major urban mental health system primarily serve Spanish-speaking clients, far below the 11% of Philadelphia residents who speak Spanish at home. This mismatch leaves at least 2.3 million people nationwide with a mental health or substance use disorder who prefer to communicate in Spanish, struggling to find accessible, culturally responsive care.
“When Spanish-speaking therapists are given the tools and support to train in their preferred language, they can rapidly close the competence gap and become leaders in delivering high-quality care to underserved communities,” says Dr. Mora Ringle.
The complete study is available in the International Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41811-025-00257-0. Dr. Mora Ringle, assistant professor of Counseling Psychology, co-authored the study with graduate students Elyse Ganss, Jeymi Menendez Solorzano, and Amanda A. Rosado, and University of Pennsylvania Associate Professor Torrey Creed.
Mental health professionals seeking to serve Latine clients better may consider enrolling in Lehigh University’s Mental Health & Education of Latin American People in the U.S. certificate program. This graduate certificate program is designed for current and future professionals who want to enhance their skills to serve Latin American people in the U.S. The certificate is grounded in cultural humility, cultural competence, and evidence-based practices that are responsive to social and structural determinants of mental health. Courses in this certificate aim to promote knowledge, awareness, and skills related to community-based structural interventions, identity and culture, the psychology of immigration, effective clinical interventions, and issues in multilingual learner education. The 12-credit program is open to current mental health professionals, health professionals, and educators who hold an undergraduate degree. The program is offered online, and courses can be completed during summer and winter sessions. More information on the program is found here: https://ed.lehigh.edu/academics/certificates/certificate-mental-health-education-latin-american-people-us
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