Love, Intimacy, and the African American Couple

Description

This exciting new text on counseling African American couples outlines critical components to providing culturally-sensitive treatment. Built around a framework that examines African American couples issues as well as the specific contextual factors that can negatively impact their relationships, it: Addresses threats to love and intimacy for Black couples Provides culturally relevant, strengths-based approaches and assessment practices Includes interesting case studies at the conclusion of each chapter that illustrate important concepts. The chapters span the current state of couple relationships; readers will find information for working with lesbians and gays in relationships, pastoral counseling, and intercultural Black couples. There is also a chapter for non-Black therapists who work with Black clients. Dispersed throughout the book are interviews with prominent African American couples experts: Dr. Chalandra Bryant, relationship expert Audrey B. Chapman, Dr. Daryl Rowe and Dr. Sandra Lyons-Rowe, and Dr. Thomas Parham. They provide personal insight on issues such as the strengths African Americans bring to relationships, their skills and struggles, and gender and class considerations. This must-read book will significantly help you and your clients. Cover LOVE, INTIMACY, AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLE Copyright CONTENTS CONTRIBUTORS SERIES EDITOR’S FOREWORD PREFACE Part I INFLUENCES THAT SHAPE LOVE, INTIMACY, AND RELATIONAL PATTERNS AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES 1 INTRODUCTION EXPERT INTERVIEW 2 PAST AND PRESENT SOCIETAL INFLUENCES ON AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES THAT IMPACT LOVE AND INTIMACY Part II SOCIALIZATION FACTORS OF BLACK LOVE AND INTIMACY 3 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE–FEMALE ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS 4 THREATS TO INTIMACY FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES EXPERT INTERVIEW Part III SUBGROUPS WITHIN AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES 5 LOVE AND INTIMACY ISSUES WITH INTERCULTURAL BLACK COUPLES 6 AFRICAN AMERICAN LESBIANS AND GAY MEN IN COUPLES’ RELATIONSHIPS: Threats to Intimacy and Considerations in Couples’ Psychotherapy Part IV ASESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF BLACK COUPLES IN COUNSELING 7 CULTURALLY SENSITIVE ASESSMENT APPROACHES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES EXPERT INTERVIEW 8 COUPLES THERAPY WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES: Specific Treatment Strategies and Techniques EXPERT INTERVIEW 9 CULTURALLY SENSITIVE GUIDELINES FOR NON-BLACK THERAPISTS WORKING WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES 10 AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES AND PASTORAL COUNSELING 11 CONCLUSION COUPLES INTERVIEWS INDEX