Racial Identity, White Counsellors and Therapists

Book excerpt: This work explores the subject of racial identity and encourages readers to think freely about racial issues and to explore their own racial identity. Written from an integrative perspective, it aims to be permission-giving and to enable readers to overcome the constraints of political correctness. With a particular focus on white identity, the book challenges white therapists to develop their understanding of a relatively unexplored field. The author believes that self-awareness is an essential element of competency as a therapist, and she challenges all white therapists to be aware of what it means to be white, and how this influences the therapy process.