Love, Intimacy, and the African American Couple

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.

About the Author

Katherine M. Helm , PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Graduate Programs in Psychology at Lewis University, and is a practicing psychologist.

Jon Carlson , PsyD, EdD, ABPP, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Governors State University, and a psychologist at the Wellness Clinic in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.