Explores a number of cultural issues including racism, racial identification, and skin color; extended family patterns and informal adoptions; role flexibility and boundary confusion; religion and spirituality. Specific chapters on poor inner-city, single-parent and middle-class Black families. Ann

Illustrated with illuminating case examples, this book explores the social, cultural, and religious characteristics that are relevant to working with Black American families.

I. Black Afro-American Families: The Cultural Context. Black Afro-American Families in Therapy: An Overview. Racism, Racial Identification, and Skin Color Issues. Black Extended Family Patterns and Informal Adoptions. Role Flexibility and Boundary Confusion in Black Families. Religion, Spirituality, and Black Afro-American Families. II. Major Treatment Theories, Issues, and Interventions. Therapist's Use of Self and
Value Conflicts with Black Families. Major Family Therapy Approaches and Their Relevance to the Treatment of Black Families. Application of the Multisystems Approach to the Treatment of Poor, Black Families. Case Example. III. Specific Familial Structures and Interventions. Single-Parent Black Families. Black Middle-Class Families in Therapy. Issues in the Treatment of Black Couples. IV. Implications for Training and Future Research.Implications for Training. Conclusion.