Culturally Adapted Family Treatment Essay Example

their belief in God and worship with a commitment to themselves and God. Spirituality is a coping strategy used by African Americans to manage stressful life events or experiences.

According to Britt (2004), certain external strategies, such as prayer, reading the bible, and feeling whole or well, are seen as supportive through religious beliefs. When counseling African Americans, it is important to have a culturally sensitive approach as their socioeconomics play a crucial role in substance abuse situations. Poverty, limited job opportunities, illiteracy, poor education, high drug availability, and everyday stressors in their lifestyle are among the many reasons African Americans may experience substance abuse issues.

According to Britt (2004), the numerous liquor stores present in African American communities have a greater influence on the population's alcohol consumption. Additionally, Boyd-Franklin (2003) emphasizes the importance of family psychologists avoiding stereotyping when working with African American families who are impacted by issues such as crime, violence, drugs, and homelessness. To best assist these families, therapists must have a comprehensive understanding of the intersecting social class and racial issues affecting African Americans. Due to anti-spiritual beliefs, African Americans may be hesitant to trust therapists or undergo counseling. The therapist should work to build trust by meeting with the entire family, particularly in cases where family therapy is required (Boyd-Franklin, 2003).

African American families can benefit from counseling if they trust their therapist and if any concerns or fears are addressed. However, they may still have reservations about counseling even if their therapist shares their cultural background. Conversely, they may find it difficult to work with a therapist who comes from a different cultural background. African Americans can be critical of

their own lives or circumstances and will expect to be respected before opening up to a therapist. It is important for therapists to ask families if they are comfortable working with someone from a different cultural background and to create opportunities for discussing race in counseling sessions (Boyd-Franklin, 2003).

Today's society, workplace, and family impose twice as many challenges on African American women due to the intersection of racism and sexism. Additionally, these women often exhibit remarkable strength and may assume the role of caregiver in the event that an African American man is unable to secure employment. Nonetheless, power struggles are common in couples facing this issue, and therapists may observe significant anger during counseling sessions.

According to Boyd-Franklin (2003), therapists must acknowledge and avoid enforcing societal gender norms to prevent further complications. Additionally, African American culture often turns to spiritual beliefs and reliance on God for support in matters such as substance abuse or daily struggles. Family members can also assist those coping with substance abuse issues. Therapy may benefit individuals seeking help.
Reference https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64953/