COUNSELING AFRICAN AMERICANSREVIEW OF CHAPTER 14Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice-- Derald Wing Sue & David Sue

Statistically SpeakingDisadvantaged Status Racism Poverty Disadvantaged Status Racism Poverty Disadvantaged Status Racism Poverty Disadvantaged Status Racism Poverty Disadvantaged Status Racism Poverty Disadvantaged Status Racism Poverty Disadvantaged Status Racism

Only 13% of the total population, but…

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Total Popula-tionAfrican Ameri-cans

Middle- and Upper-Class African Americans“This country is filled with highly successful Black men who are leading balanced, stable, productive lives working all over the labor market.” –Hugh Price, former National Urban League President

Ethnic & Racial Identity

The sequential process of racial identity and implications for counseling

Implications for Counseling African American preferences for

counselor ethnicity are often related to their current stage of racial identity

Preference regarding the race of a counselor are usually tied to the issue Depression, anxiety, drug/alcohol abuse,

meeting new people, overcoming loneliness, and dealing with anger?

Racial issues and personal relationships?

Most important counselor characteristic…

Often, the most important counselor characteristic for African Americans is the cultural sensitivity of the counselor (Sue & Sue, pg. 367, 2013).

Family StructureKinship Bonds with Extended Family and Friends

Family Structure… Increasingly, black families are headed by

single parents The African American family is often

described as matriarchal Black children are significantly less likely

than other children to be living with two married parents

African American family structure has many strengths

Differences should not be seen as “deficits”

Family Structure… For family therapy to be successful,

counselors must first identify their own set of beliefs and values regarding appropriate roles and communication patterns within a family and take care not to impose these beliefs on other families.

Put on “different lenses”

Spiritual and Religious ValuesSpirituality and religion play an important role in many African American Families

Spiritual & Religious Values… The Church is an important support

system. What might the church provide?

Support systems connected with the church have been found to promote resilience in African American undergraduates exposed to microaggressions

Racism & Discrimination“Am I being treated this way because I’m black?”“Do I protest it or just take it?”“What if they had been white?”

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Racism to Colorism What is Colorism? Light skin/Dark

skin are there differences in treatment?

Racial socialization can help buffer the effects of racism

Implications for Clinical PracticeDeveloping the therapeutic relationship

4 Interactive Factors for African American Clients Reactions to Racial

Oppression or “Historical Hostility”

Influence of Afro-American Culture

Influence of Majority Culture

Personal Experiences and Endowments

Task of the counselor is to help the client understand the effects of these interactive factors and allow such understanding to guide conscious, growth-producing choices.

What does it mean to be “black” in America?Ask yourself this question again. Is your answer any different?

ReferenceSue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the Culturally Diverse:

Theory and Practice, Chapter 14. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.