A Critical-Cultural-Relational Exploration of Latinx Emerging Adults’
Experiences of Rupture

A Critical-Cultural-Relational Exploration of Latinx Emerging Adults’
Experiences of Rupture

Hispanic Americans

Daniel Mesa-Buitrago, Esteban V. Cardemil, Amy E. Heberle

Journal of Counseling Psychology

Vol. 73

No. 1

2026

American Psychological Association

Research paper

English

220167

United States

Restricted Access

Current understandings of rupture, which are largely based on White samples, give limited attention to cultural factors and underrepresent the experiences of Latinx clients. Given that the system of psychotherapy
within the United States largely upholds White Eurocentric cultural values that may be mismatched with
values held by Latinx communities, Latinx clients’ experiences of rupture may differ from the White–
Eurocentric understanding of rupture in the existing literature. The present study therefore draws on criticalcultural-relational frameworks that situate rupture as a culturally embedded and culturally constructed experience to explore how and why Latinx clients, specifically emerging adults, experience rupture within the client–therapist relationship. In this study, we used reflexive thematic analysis to examine data from semistructured interviews (N = 16) focused on Latinx clients’ descriptions of their experiences of rupture
and repair. We noted four themes: (1) Lacking Personalismo Within the Client–Therapist Relationship;
(2) Falta de Respeto Mutuo: Feeling Less Than in the Power Imbalance; (3) Unseen, Unheard, and
Unrepaired; and (4) Rupture as Bicultural Stress. These dynamic and interrelated themes highlight the ways
in which participant cultural values, norms, and expectation informed their experiences with rupture. These
findings have the potential to inform culturally attuned strategies for navigating rupture with Latinx clients.

Jessica Alston