Preferences for Trauma-Related Mental Health Services Among Latina Immigrants From Central America, South America, and Mexico Stacey Kaltman and Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC Felisa A. Gonzales George Washington University Adriana Serrano Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC Latinos in the United States (U.S.) experience disparities in the detection and treatment of mental disorders. Although previous research has found that Latinos prefer individual psychotherapy and treatment in a primary care setting for common trauma-related mental disorders (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress disorder), reasons for these treatment preferences are not fully understood and preferences regarding other mental health treatment characteristics are not known. Using a mixed-methods approach, the current study sought to identify preferences for treatment modality, type of psychotherapy, type of provider, and setting, as well as the influences of logistical factors and potential barriers on the help-seeking behaviors of trauma-exposed Latina immigrants who met screening criteria for PTSD and/or depression and were receiving health care in a primary care clinic. Consistent with previous research, participants expressed a preference for individual therapy, particularly supportive psychotherapy and cognitive– behavioral therapy. Participants preferred re- ceiving mental health care in a primary care clinic by a mental health specialist. Cost emerged as the most important logistical consideration when determining whether to seek services. Unfamiliarity with mental health services and confidentiality concerns, particularly regarding immigration status, were identified as additional barriers that may decrease the likelihood of seeking treatment for depression or PTSD. Providers will need to be creative in incorporating the treatment preferences of Latinos in cost-efficient interventions. Efforts to decrease the mental health disparities faced by the growing Latino population may include psychoeducation, hybrid treatments, and systems-level interventions to integrate mental health treatment into primary care settings. Keywords: Latino, Hispanic, mental health, depression, PTSD Latinos in the United States (U.S.) experience significant mental health disparities related to access to care, the quality of care received, and mental health outcomes (McGuire & Miranda, 2008; USDHHS, 2001), with recent research suggesting that the dispar- ities are growing (Blanco et al., 2007; Cook, McGuire, & Miranda, 2007). Latinos with a mental disorder are less likely to utilize mental health services; when they do seek care, Latinos often delay treatment and are more likely to receive inadequate and lower quality care (Alegría et al., 2002; Young, Klap, Sherbourne, & Wells, 2001). Research suggests that Latinos in the U.S. often prefer to seek mental health care for common trauma-related mental disorders (e.g., depression, PTSD) in primary care clinics, but that they are often at risk for nondetection in these settings (Borowsky et al., 2000; Vega, Kolody, & Aguilar-Gaxiola, 2001). One strategy to reduce the observed disparities in care experi- enced by the Latino community involves understanding treatment preferences to ensure that culturally appropriate and acceptable services are made available. The majority of research examining treatment preferences for depression and PTSD among Latinos has found a strong preference for individual psychotherapy (Cabassa, Lester, & Zayas, 2007; Dwight-Johnson, Sherbourne, Liao, & Wells, 2000; Eisenman et al., 2008; Nadeem, Lange, & Miranda, 2008). Findings regarding the acceptability of group psychother- apy are less consistent: one study found that group psychotherapy was not an acceptable treatment option for the Latino sample (Dwight-Johnson, Lagomasino, Aisenberg, & Hay, 2004), two studies found that about half of participants reported an openness to group psychotherapy as a treatment option (Alvidrez & Azocar, 1999; Nadeem et al., 2008), and one study found a preference for group counseling over individual counseling among close to half of participants (Dwight-Johnson et al., 2000). Across studies, medications were viewed less favorably and generally not perceived to be an effective or acceptable treatment option (Alvidrez & Azocar, 1999; Cabassa et al., 2007; Dwight- This article was published Online First March 25, 2013. Stacey Kaltman and Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC; Fe- lisa A. Gonzales, Department of Psychology, George Washington Univer- sity; Adriana Serrano, Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH077071). The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Marta Genovez and Cristina Torres who transcribed the interviews. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Stacey Kaltman, Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Cen- ter, 2115 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 120, Washington, DC 20007. E-mail: sk279@georgetown.edu This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy © 2013 American Psychological Association 2014, Vol. 6, No. 1, 83–91 1942-9681/14/$12.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0031539 83