Race and Ethnicity Commons^™

Racism And The Helping Process, Susan Reid

Explorations in Ethnic Studies

The issues addressed in this paper relate to racism within the helping process. We will base our discussion on the premise that racism is an illness and should be regarded as such wherever it emerges in the helping process, whether or not this relates directly to the client's reasons for seeking help. The discussion will also be based on the converse, i.e. that concerns of clients about race relations, their interest in establishing positive interracial relationships or in effecting change on some level, should be regarded as healthy and positive, not as "symptomatic" of hidden pathology.