Black Families in Therapy: Understanding the African American Experience » (2nd Edition)

Nancy Boyd Franklin, PhD, is a Professor in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She is also an African American family therapist and the author or editor of several books. An internationally recognized lecturer and author, Dr. Boyd Franklin has published numerous articles on such issues as the treatment of African American families, extended family issues, spirituality and religion, home based family therapy, group therapy for Black women, HIV and AIDS, parent and family therapeutic support groups, the multisystems model, and community empowerment.

This classic text helps professionals and students understand and address cultural and racial issues in therapy with African American clients. Leading family therapist Nancy Boyd-Franklin explores the problems and challenges facing African American communities at different socioeconomic levels, expands major therapeutic concepts and models to be more relevant to the experiences of African American families and individuals, and outlines an empowerment-based, multisystemic approach to helping clients mobilize cultural and personal resources for change.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description:This the second edition of a book discusses the various aspects of dealing with African American clients, especially from a family perspective. The first edition was published in 1989.
Purpose:According to the author, "in this second edition, I have kept and updated the most important elements of the first edition, while significantly expanding into many important new areas. The last decade has brought major changes in legislation and public policy initiatives that have directly impacted the lives of many African American families." The book definitely meets the author's objectives.
Audience:According to the publisher, ..."this classic text helps professionals and students understand and address cultural and racial issues in therapy with African American clients." The author, a prominent African American family therapist, author/editor of many books, and professor at Rutgers University, is a very credible authority. If one wants to learn about African American culture and therapy, one must read her work.
Features:The book covers many important areas including cultural and racial context, major treatment theories and interventions, socioeconomic issues, and supervision and training concerns. The author provides many clinical examples in the material, which help to elucidate the concepts. The chapter on "Racism, Racial Identity, and Skin Color Issues" is so good because it gets to the core of many important themes that African American clients deal with on a daily basis. It addresses both racism and internalized shame in a thoughtful manner.
Assessment:This book is excellent. Written by a leading expert in the field who addresses many important areas, it should be required reading for those treating African American clients. The book is easy to read and is highlighted by a plethora of clinical examples. In cross-cultural psychology, it is one of the best books I have ever read. This welcome second edition adds important material and research, building on the solid foundation of the first edition written almost 15 years ago.