Black People Have Issues…
I was once told by a Latina therapist that, although I may speak Spanish, I could never counsel Spanish speaking clients effectively as an African American Therapist; because I don’t understand their culture. I fired back, but you’re Latina and you counsel Black people? Her response was quite ignorant to me, as she stated “Yeah well I’ve lived around them so I’m good”. Her ignorance aside, the new buzz word in Psychotherapy is “Cultural Competence”. “You have to be culturally competent to work with Asian Clients, Hispanic Clients, Disabled Clients, Military Clients, the entire LGBTIQ clients and other specifically identified groups”, for the record, I do agree. Cultural Competence is imperative. It gives a Therapist a higher level of empathy and understanding that is essential for a therapeutic alliance to be formed. But, what about clients of African decent? Has the special needs and empathy needed to treat Black clients disappeared? Been eradicated? Resolved?
BLACK PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES
To get the obvious out of the way. I am a Black Couples Counselor in Fayetteville, Georgia. This has several implications for me, none of which are racially motivated, but more scientifically and/or qualitatively directed. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF BLACK MALE THERAPIST IN THE SOUTH. My training as a Therapist was mainly geared, as I’m sure most persons in the psychology field, to work with Americans of European decent…which for a while was the majority of my practice. I initially thought this was an economic issue. I’ve received several advanced trainings in Couples Counseling, which is why my fee is a little higher than lessor qualified Couples Counselors, and I don’t accept insurance (Because Insurance Companies normally wont pay for this service surprisingly) However, Fayetteville, Ga has a rather large middle class population of African-Americans (I’ll use the term “Black People”and “African-American’s interchangeably throughout this blog), so economics is not the bigger picture. Black Americans have a history with “Powerlessness” in United States (not to be confused with weakness). Southern pride, appears to perpetuate the memory of this powerlessness by holding on to Jungian Archetypes or symbology indicative of an era when powerlessness was enforced by law. Some examples to name a few are:
- The abundance of Confederate Flags
- A Superabundant number of subdivisions named “XYZ PLANTATION”
- Highway SeatBelt Signs like the ones in Georgia where at a glance resemble Confederate Flags
- Ongoing re-enactments of the only War which chills the spines of African Americans and
- an abundance of hate groups (i.e. the KKK and friends etc…)
Psychology itself is not without sin. We can gain and take away power from people simply by naming disorders according to the perspective of the oppressor rather than the victim. There was a point in American History when “The uncontrollable urge to escape slavery” was listed a mental disorder called “Drapetomania” and “Dyathesia aethiopia” defined as destroying property on the plantation, being disobedient, talking back, fighting with masters, and refusing to work where common place(McGoldrick, 1998). Powerlessness is an issue of epic proportions, yet its symptoms are nearly invisible. Black males for example have been seen as objects of fear throughout history, despite or perhaps because of their continued desire to be treated with dignity. Ralph Ellison’s (1952) classic book Invisible Man depicts this syndrome where as Black men are treated as if they were invisible until they are perceived as a threat then suddenly societal intervention is needed via more jails, public assistance, or harsher street level law enforcement. Black women are then forced to also negate the existence of these same Black men and in some instances “Hide” them from the world. Black people have issues, however expressing them to “outsiders” historically required acts of trust that rested on faith. One article, or conversation, could not cover the magnitude of the influence of history on African American people. So much so that this blog post almost didn’t warrant writing. However, I decided to write about it today anyway and take control over a piece of my own sense of “Powerlessness”. Because I am a Black Couples Counselor in Fayetteville, Georgia my discussion about Black Powerlessness runs many risk of being muted. For one, it’ll be looked at as bias because I am apart of the group which I speak of, therefore enabling me from ever qualitatively chiming in on the topic of Black concerns…without being identified as a Black Nationalist or other derogatory terms of myopic thinking; this discussion is best left to a White researcher who can “truly” be un-biased. The other risk that I have to encounter in discussing this topic is: To be pro-Black-History, you have to be anti-White History and to be fair, to be pro-White History you have to be anti-Black History. Neither which I believe is true. However, the line is….complicated.
I imagined “Black People Have Issues” would be part of a series of writings about the complications of being a culturally competent Black Male Therapist in America. Frequently when I attend training seminars utilizing highly regarded therapeutic modalities, I’m the only one in the room who shares my ethnicity. Bringing up “Hey Black people have issues” too, doesn’t seem like the appropriate time or place when I’m in such a minority amongst my own professional group. It almost feels self serving. But, if not then than when? The Black family has a history of reasons to distrust counseling as a whole and for that reason intervention from a minority professional could broaden the conversation. Cultural Competence is vital. However, the Couples Counselor who decides to work with African American Couples has to, in my humble opinion, also work with the Invisibilia of POWERLESSNESS in the room.
Jemal Doute, LMFT is a cultural competent therapist is private practice
Powerlessness in the Black Culture has deep roots in American Culture. The symptomology of powerlessness in the African American Couple may present many ways in session, to include but not limited to:
- anxious or disorganized attachment styles
- Distrust in relationship
- Infidelity
- Abusive interactions, yelling, or conflicted conversations, as well as
- Isolation
Cultural Competence allows the therapist to have the right degree of Empathy to work with the Black Family or Couple, which to some degree appears to have been marginalized over the years; perhaps due to our own progress in certain arenas. Some worry that showing this level of empathy to a couples ethnic struggle will hijack the session to become a history lesson and not about the relationship issues. However, as I warn my couples when I’m actively practicing effective listening to their concerns EMPATHY does not EQUAL AGREEMENT. Of course powerlessness is discerning, of course powerlessness in a relationship is debilitating, However, helping individuals in a relationship own their powerlessness, feel understood, connected and seen, are powerful change agents. What feels better than feeling and being seen by someone you love? Having a partner with whom you feel connected with holistically; Mind, Body and Soul. Couples Counseling has a proven track record of efficacy, not only for “others”, but for the Black Family as well. Black People have issues, and it’s not always what they present in the room during a couples session that becomes the main focus. Histories, taboos play a part in the invisiblia that creates struggle and tension within many Black Families. Discrimination based on race alone are not dead concepts. Black people are a part of the fabric of this Country. So interwoven that perhaps as a profession, we stopped adding them to the group of racially oppressed people with invisible forces working against them. In some circles I hear Gay is the new Black. I’ve been asked by callers if I treat Gay Couples, with no mention of ethnicity. Is that not important? There remains a certain level of competence to treat Black Couples, despite the invisible forces that say otherwise. Couples Counseling is not Taboo. The evidence supporting the effectiveness speaks for itself. But, if cultural competence is on your “therapist must have list” then make it a point to ask when you call. It’s your dime. If you don’t ask, then you’re putting yourself in a “buyer beware” situation. If you bring an elephant in the room, yet act like it’s not there. It’ll be your chest that it’ll crush. There’s no Invisible people in my office…at least not that I’ve seen. Stand up and let it be known that Black people have special issues that needs to be addressed as well. Don’t marginalize your relationship.
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