The Influence of Race and Racial Identity in Psychotherapy

Conventional wisdom has it that race and racial identity are, at best, marginal factors in personality development. In light of the fact that in many cultures race is the ultimate measure of inclusion or exclusion, this view seems about as sensible as the claim that dietary habits have little or nothing to do with physical development. Equally strange is the belief held by many schools of thought that race is important only when a patient brings it into the therapeutic process, and if the patient happens to be a person of color, the issue of race is merely a ploy for avoiding more critical intrapsychic issues. In this groundbreaking book, Robert T. Carter stands conventional wisdom on its head and elevates race to the position of prominence it deserves to occupy in modern psychological thought. With a wealth of empirical evidence to support his claims, he clearly demonstrates the decisive role that race plays in personality development and the powerful influence it has on the therapeutic process. Just as importantly, he presents the first Racially Inclusive Model of Psychotherapy, a rigorous conceptual framework which affords clinicians a deeper awareness of how racial issues affect their dealings with patients and a means of integrating that knowledge into their practices. The Influence of Race and Racial Identity in Psychotherapy is an indispensable working resource for all mental health professionals.