Culture and Identity

Anita Jones Thomas, PhD, is a counseling psychologist with specializations in multicultural counseling and family therapy, and is currently an Dean and Professor of the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. She received a bachelor’s degree in human development and social policy from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in community counseling from Loyola University Chicago. Her doctorate in counseling psychology was received from Loyola University Chicago. Her research interests include critical consciousness, and racial identity, racial socialization, and parenting issues for African Americans. She has also conducted training seminars and workshops on multicultural issues for state and national professional organizations in counseling and psychology, hospitals, and corporations and has served as a consultant for human service organizations. Dr. Thomas has served and chaired the Committee on Children, Youth, and Families of the American Psychological Association, and the Task Force on Resilience and Strength and Black Children and Adolescents, and is on the board for the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice.Sara Schwarzbaum, EdD, LMFT, LCPC, is a retired Professor in the department of Counselor Education and a coordinator of the Master’s in Couple and Family Counseling Program at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. She is also the founder of Couples Counseling Associates in Chicago. She has a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Buenos Aires, Argentina and doctoral degree in counseling with an emphasis in family therapy from Northern Illinois University.  She has written articles that have appeared in the Psychotherapy Networker, Counseling Today and other publications. She is a consultant, trainer, and presenter at state and national conferences where she frequently conducts workshops on clinical issues with Latino clients, the multicultural competency of clinicians, psychotherapy with immigrants and families, and marriage counseling.

"The authors provide readers with compelling narratives that are both powerful and informative. The book is well organized and helps the reader identify important content themes and interventions necessary to work with diverse populations. I would highly recommend this text to counselor trainees and students interested in working from a culturally mindful perspective!"

• PrefaceOrganization of the BookAcknowledgmentsSECTION I: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS1. Self in ContextDevelopmental ProcessesDevelopment of the SelfDevelopment of Self in ContextSocietal Influences on DevelopmentShifting SelvesResilienceWhat Is Resilience?Factors Associated With ResiliencePersonal Protective FactorsUsing Resilience in TreatmentSECTION II: RACE AND ETHNICITY2. Julie’s Story: So What if I’m a Black Woman?Julie’s StoryContent ThemesRace and StereotypesInterpersonal RelationshipsRacismSelf-Definition/Authentic SelfClinical ApplicationsAssessmentInfluence of RaceTechniques and InterventionsCritical Consciousness and the Authentic SelfRacial HeritageRacial SocializationCountertransferenceReactions to RacismRace of the TherapistToolbox Activity—Julie3. Butch’s Story: Who Am I?Butch’s StoryContent ThemesContextual DimensionsFamily Socialization PatternsIntragroup DifferencesSelf-ImageCultural HomelessnessClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsMyths About Multiracial IndividualsFamily and Racial Socialization ProcessesCountertransferenceMyths and MisperceptionsIssues of Self-HatredToolbox Activity—Butch4. Betsie’s Story: I Am 100% JewishBetsie’s StoryContent ThemesPride About Ethnic BackgroundThe Connection Between Ethnicity and Family ValuesPressure to Conform to Ethnic ValuesRelationship Between Ethnicity and ReligionRelationship Between Sociohistorical Contexts and IdentityClinical ApplicationsAssessmentPride About Ethnic BackgroundEthnicity, Family Values, and Pressures to ConformRelationship Between Ethnicity, Religion, Sociohistorical Contexts, and Other VariablesTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceSimilar EthnicityDifferent EthnicityToolbox Activity—Betsie5. Maribel’s Story: When Are You Going to Have Kids?Maribel’s StoryContent ThemesEthnicity, Immigration, Social Class, and RacismEthnicity and LanguageThe Double Life of a Hybrid IdentityGender Role ShiftsClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceToolbox Activity—MaribelSECTION III: IMMIGRATION AND ACCULTURATION6. Vu’s Story: I Am an AmericanVu’s StoryContent ThemesForced Migration and Refugee StatusSecond Language AcquisitionAcculturation and Assimilation ProcessesSurvivor GuiltClinical ApplicationsAssessmentForced Migration and Refugee StatusSecond Language AcquisitionAcculturation Processes and Coping StylesSurvivor GuiltTechniques and InterventionsAcquire Knowledge of HistoryPsycholinguistic HistoryCountertransferenceExcessive Curiosity About the Client’s BackgroundWish to Help Clients Go Back to Their RootsToolbox Activity—Vu7. Esteban’s Story: Still UprootedEsteban’s StoryContent ThemesTragic LossLanguage LossLanguage, Acculturation, and EthnicityImmigration and Social ClassClinical ApplicationsAssessmentLanguage LossShifts in Social ClassEthnicity and Acculturation ViewsTechniques and InterventionsLanguage Switching and Language MixingCountertransferenceSadness or GuiltDenial of CultureWish to Prove That the Clinician Is Above PrejudiceToolbox Activity—Esteban8. Maria Luz’s Story: Here We Are Not FreeMaria Luz’s StoryContent ThemesAmbivalenceVoluntary Versus Involuntary MigrationDocumented Versus Undocumented StatusLanguage Issues of the First-Generation ImmigrantImmigration and Geographic OriginClinical ApplicationsAssessmentPotential for Dropout From ServicesBeliefs About Mental Health PracticesRisk of Dropout From Counseling ServicesAmbivalence About the Immigration DecisionLanguage IssuesImportance of Geographic OriginDocumentation StatusTechniques and InterventionsPretherapy OrientationCountertransferenceClients’ Language, Habits, and CustomsTherapist Discomfort and Positive or Negative StereotypesToolbox Activity—Maria Luz9. Teresa’s Story: I Didn’t Want to Go to Church on SundayTeresa’s StoryContent ThemesFirst- Versus Second-Generation ImmigrantsLanguage Issues of the Second Generation: Loss or RejectionIntergenerational Conflicts and GenderClinical ApplicationsAssessmentLanguage Issues With the Second GenerationIntergenerational Conflicts and Gender RolesTechniques and InterventionsUntangling Family Conflicts Based on Second-Generation ChoicesCountertransferenceTaking SidesToolbox Activity—TeresaSECTION IV: RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY10. Frank’s Story: Hearing God’s VoiceFrank’s StoryContent ThemesRelationship With GodSubmission in ReligionReligion as a Strength or ResourceClinical ApplicationsAssessmentRelationship With a Higher PowerExistential QuestionsReligion as StrengthTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceDiscomfort With Religious DiscussionsDifferences in Religious BeliefsToolbox Activity—Frank11. Bob’s Story: The Good Christian SonBob’s StoryContent ThemesReligious SocializationShift in Religious IdentityInternal Migration and Religious IdentityClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceToolbox Activity—Bob12. Katie’s Story: Catholic and Jewish? How Can It Be?Katie’s StoryWas This a “Crisis” of Faith?The Wedding PlansAnd the Rest of the Story . . . ?Teach Your Children DiligentlyPractice, Practice, Practice: A Practicing CatholicContent ThemesReligious Identity DevelopmentDecision MakingFamily SocializationInfluence of Current EventsClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsExamination of Specific Religious TeachingsInterfaith Relationship IssuesCountertransferenceMoral DilemmasConfusion About Interfaith DifferencesToolbox Activity—Katie13. Malia’s Story: Am I American?Malia’s StoryContent ThemesProcess of IdentityAcculturationClinical ApplicationsAssessmentProcess of IdentityReligionAcculturationTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceToolbox Activity—MaliaSECTION V: SOCIAL CLASS14. Carla’s Story: One More MileCarla’s StoryContent ThemesThe Impact of PovertyLack of Access to ResourcesImportance of EducationLink to Race/Dominant ValuesClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceToolbox Activity—Carla15. Anthony’s Story: From Radical to Bohemian to Suit MeAnthony’s StoryContent ThemesChanges in Socioeconomic Status and Social ClassDominant Class StandardsClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsDominant ValuesBudgetsCountertransferenceDifferences in ValuesClassismToolbox Activity—AnthonySECTION VI: SEXUAL ORIENTATIONClinical Considerations16. Karen’s Story: Midlife Growing PainsKaren’s StoryContent ThemesComing OutBisexualityShame and Internal JudgmentClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsCountertransferenceToolbox Activity—Karen17. Rachel’s Story: Nurturing the SpiritTransgender and Intersex SexualityImplications for ProfessionalsDiscussion QuestionsRachel’s StoryContent ThemesTrapped in Wrong Body/Gender IdentityTransitionHarassmentClinical ApplicationsAssessmentCross-Gender Expression and Transgender IdentityTechniques and InterventionsExpression and Acceptance of Gender IdentityTransitioning and Working Through HarassmentBelief in Client CompetencyCountertransferenceToolbox Activity—RachelSECTION VII: DISABILITY18. David’s Story: Broken Neck, Intact SpiritDavid’s StoryContent ThemesGrief and Loss IssuesAdjusting to the DisabilityDisability Identity DevelopmentDiscriminationResilience and Social JusticeClinical ApplicationsAssessmentTechniques and InterventionsGrief and LossFostering ResilienceCareer CounselingIntersectionalityProcess of TherapyCountertransferencePityCuriosityToolbox Activity—DavidAppendixReferencesIndexAbout the Authors