Digital Commons Network^™

Opening A Can Of Worms: African American Therapists' Attitudes About Broaching Race With White Clients, Michelle Gavel

MSU Graduate Theses

Broaching attitudes and factors affecting the decision to broach race in African American therapists are examined using a survey and interview design. Broaching involves addressing racial differences in therapy sessions with clients, and is recommended in counseling-training literature for White therapists when working with clients of color. Given the lack of guidelines for therapists of color working with White clients, this study examined the broaching attitudes of African American therapists working with White clients. This study found that the decision to broach race in the Black therapist/White client dyad is complex. Many factors involving the therapists' comfort, therapists' self-awareness, clients' …