Research has shown that in the Latino American population, there is a notable discrepancy between the need for mental health services and the utilization of mental health services. When these services are actually sought, research has found a significantly higher tendency for Latinos to prematurely terminate treatment. These issues have become a growing concern in research and clinical practice as the population of Latinos in the Unites States continues to increase.

Many socioeconomic, psychotherapeutic, and cultural factors have been identified as possibly contributing to lack of utilization and premature termination. One of these factors is the notion of fatalism, or fatalismo, which is a part of Latino culture and is often linked to [Page 410]religious beliefs. Fatalism is the tendency to view life as controlled by ...