Black Families in Therapy

“The author provides a wellspring of practical explanation for therapists on how to broach Issues that often confront Black families. This book offers concrete dialogues and narratives to expand the concepts presented. Boyd-Franklin has a remarkable ability to simplify very complex family therapy concepts so the average reader may understand. This author blends a daunting array of social and psychological issues affecting the Black family into highly readable and practical discussions....The author did an outstanding job at presenting significant issues....The richness of the framework it presents and its thorough exploration of the primary concerns of Black families' renders it a must read for all clinicians....Clinicians in any setting will find the information practical and useful. In addition, this text is a good resource for students in the Behavioral Sciences and Human Services' professions.”

—American Journal of Family Therapy


“Nancy Boyd-Franklin has long been a leading voice on the experience of African American families. In this new edition of her groundbreaking clinical text, she expands and deepens our understanding of the diverse backgrounds and complex challenges of Black families in our society, illuminating the strengths that therapists can tap into. This is invaluable reading for students and practitioners in mental health and social service fields.”

—Froma Walsh, PhD, School of Social Service Administration, Department of Psychiatry, and Center for Family Health, University of Chicago


“Black Families in Therapy, Second Edition, will doubtless become a classic. It is well organized; written in clear, understandable language; draws on a wealth of information from diverse disciplines; and covers a number of important new topics. Among the book's outstanding features is its incisive narrative style, in which major concepts, principles and therapeutic approaches are highlighted with vivid case examples and vignettes. This is an excellent text for upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses addressing Black family life, African American psychology, multiethnic family therapy, cross-cultural psychology, pastoral counseling, and related topics.”

—Joseph L. White, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of California, Irvine


“With the initial publication of this text, Nancy Boyd-Franklin broke new ground and set a high standard for research, teaching, and therapeutic practice with African American families. The new second edition is yet another pace-setting gift to the field. Some books are designed to fill a crucial gap on the reference shelf. Others are useful as textbooks for students in family studies, counseling, psychology, psychiatry, and even sociology. Still others function best as working manuals for practitioners. Black Families in Therapy, Second Edition, will surely serve all these functions while moving to the head of the line of readable, provocative, and insightful works in this area.”

—Andrew Billingsley, PhD, African American Studies Program and The Institute for Families and Society, University of South Carolina


“This impressive second edition draws on more than a decade of new research and clinical experience to enrich and expand a classic text. No one in the mental health field can afford to be without this basic primer for understanding and working with African Americans. Dr. Boyd-Franklin has always had a remarkable ability to combine theory and practical application. Written with clarity, insight, and creativity, the book is full of concrete information and case examples, while at the same time providing a strong understanding of the historical context and the evolving political realities of African American families. It also does an amazing job of dispelling persistent, pejorative myths in this essential clinical area. This book should be required reading for every psychotherapist, counselor, educator, social worker, and human service professional.”

—Monica McGoldrick, LCSW, PhD (h.c.), Multicultural Family Institute, Highland Park, New Jersey


“Many scholars write about characteristics of African American families, but no one else does so with the empathy and sensitivity that characterize Nancy Boyd-Franklin's second edition of Black Families in Therapy. Dr. Boyd-Franklin describes the complexities of African American families with respect to ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and skin color, to highlight but a few of the new and/or expanded themes that give substance to this edition. The case examples throughout the book are extremely useful for helping the reader to 'see' the dynamic interplay among such factors within the family system, as well as the societal contexts in which family members function. Dr. Boyd-Franklin's discussion of therapist ethnicity as an aspect of therapy addresses the often-asked question of whether only Black therapists can work effectively with Black families. Any therapist or therapist in training who intends to deliver race- and culture-sensitive services to African American families should consider this book required reading.”

—Janet E. Helms, PhD, Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology, and Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture, Boston College