Rap Therapy: A Practical Guide for Communicating with Young Adults Through Rap Music » (New Edition)

Dr. Don Elligan, a clinical psychologist working in Chicago and Boston, was looking for a way to connect to the angry young black men in his office. Abusing drugs and alcohol and making poor choices about their future, they desperately needed help in changing their lives. But when Dr. Elligan spoke to them in his language, they tuned him out. He had to learn to understand and communicate in theirs -- the language of hip-hop, or rap. To do that, he developed his widely praised program called Rap Therapy. Now, he makes Rap Therapy accessible to all concerned adults -- parents, guardians, teachers or counselors. In a clearly written, straightforward guide, Dr. Elligan explains how to reach out to today's young people by developing an understanding of their culture: why the pants have to be bigger, the lyrics raunchier, and the music raw and throbbing like their troubled world. He shows how rap artists such as Salt-n-Pepa, Outkast, Dr. Dre, and LL Cool J comment on sex, drugs, politics, society, and family, influencing urban kids in a variety of ways, from clothing to language. And he explains why the movement and the music so appeal to teenagers who use the slang and rhyming lyrics to express their emotions, challenges, and dreams, as well as to shock and exclude adults. Along with compelling real-life stories from his practice, Dr. Elligan provides selected pro-social rap songs to use in Rap Therapy, and specific curricula for various issues from anger management in young men to improving self-esteem in young women. A book of hope and real help, Rap Therapy is an essential tool for using the sound that has captured troubled kids' imaginations to make a difference in their lives.

Library Journal

Culture sensitivity in psychotherapy is a recent approach that allows the client's cultural environment to be acknowledged in the therapeutic process. Clinical psychologist Elligan demonstrates that as the language of hip-hop culture, rap music can be used as a therapeutic tool with inner-city youth; its use in this setting helps establish a trusting and nonjudgmental relationship between therapist and client. By focusing on the lyrics of respected rap artists, the therapist can influence values and provide insight on more appropriate behaviors and moral beliefs. Part 1 describes the different styles of rap music, while Part 2 briefly explains the five steps of rap therapy. The last part illustrates rap therapy concretely through ten case studies. Writing clearly and succinctly, Elligan provides a true guide for instructing other therapists on the use of rap music. The appendix includes a six-page list of rap songs recommended for use in rap therapy. Essential for all academic libraries serving graduate students in psychology.-Maryse Breton, Davis Branch Lib., CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.